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. 2020:42:e2020001.
doi: 10.4178/epih.e2020001. Epub 2019 Dec 27.

Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with multimorbidity in New Zealand

Nayyereh Aminisani  1   2 , Christine Stephens  3 , Joanne Allen  3 , Fiona Alpass  3 , Seyed Morteza Shamshirgaran  2
Affiliations

Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with multimorbidity in New Zealand

Nayyereh Aminisani et al. Epidemiol Health. 2020.

Abstract

Objectives: The incidence of multimorbidity (MM) and its correlates among older adults remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with MM in New Zealand.

Methods: People aged 55-70 years were invited to participate in a population-based cohort study, the Health Work and Retirement Study, in 2006. Those who accepted the invitation and completed the baseline questionnaire were followed up on a biennial basis. Data on socio-demographic factors, health and lifestyle behaviours, and diagnoses of chronic diseases were obtained from baseline and 6 waves of follow-up. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) adjusted for both time-constant and time-varying factors were used to model factors associated with the onset of MM.

Results: A total of 1,673 participants (with 0 or 1 chronic condition) contributed to an overall 8,616 person-years of observation. There were 590 new cases of MM over 10 years of follow-up, corresponding to an overall incidence of 68.5 per 1,000 person-years. The results of the age- and sex-adjusted GEE analysis showed that age, ethnicity, living alone, obesity, hypertension, and having 1 chronic condition at baseline were significant predictors of MM onset. Higher education, income, physical activity, and regular alcohol consumption were protective factors. In a fully adjusted model, marital status (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.37; p=0.039), hypertension (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.48; p=0.032) and having 1 chronic condition at baseline (OR, 2.92; 95% CI, 2.33 to 3.67; p<0.001) remained significant.

Conclusions: The higher incidence of MM among Māori people, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, those with low physical activity, and obese individuals highlights the importance of targeted prevention strategies.

Keywords: Demographic factors; Incidence; Lifestyle; Multimorbidity; New Zealand.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare for this study.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Incidence rates of multimorbidity by age, sex, and ethnicity strata among adults (A) aged 55 and over, 2006-2016, (B) without a chronic condition at the baseline, 2006-2016, and (C) with 1 chronic condition at the baseline, 2006-2016, in New Zealand.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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