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. 2023 Jun 2:34:102265.
doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102265. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Physical activity matters for everyone's health, but individuals with multimorbidity benefit more

Layan Fessler  1 , Silvio Maltagliati  1 , Stefan Sieber  2 , Stéphane Cullati  3   4 , Elena Tessitore  5 , Cecilia Craviari  6   7 , Christophe Luthy  8 , Eliana Hanna  8 , Philippe Meyer  9 , Dan Orsholits  10 , Philippe Sarrazin  1 , Boris Cheval  11   12
Affiliations

Physical activity matters for everyone's health, but individuals with multimorbidity benefit more

Layan Fessler et al. Prev Med Rep. .

Abstract

Multimorbidity, defined as the presence of two or more chronic conditions, is increasingly prevalent and is a major contributor to ill health in old age. Physical activity (PA) is a key protective factor for health and individuals with multimorbidity could particularly benefit from engaging in PA. However, direct evidence that PA has greater health benefits in people with multimorbidity is lacking. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether the associations between PA and health were more pronounced in individuals with (vs. without) multimorbidity. We used data from 121,875 adults aged 50 to 96 years (mean age = 67 ± 10 years, 55% women) enrolled in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Multimorbidity and PA were self-reported. Health indicators were assessed using tests and validated scales. Variables were measured up to seven times over a 15-year period. Confounder-adjusted linear mixed-effects models were used to investigate the moderating role of multimorbidity on the associations of PA with the levels and trajectories of health indicators across aging. Results showed that multimorbidity was associated with declines in physical, cognitive, and mental health, as well as poorer general health. Conversely, PA was positively associated with these health indicators. We found a significant interaction between multimorbidity and PA, revealing that positive associations between PA and health indicators were strengthened in people with multimorbidity - although this stronger association became less pronounced in advanced age. These findings suggest that the protective role of PA for multiple health indicators is enhanced in individuals with multimorbidity.

Keywords: Aging; Chronic conditions; Europe; Health; Multimorbidity; Physical activity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Associations of physical activity with multiple health indicators, separately for individuals with and without multimorbidity.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Trajectories of health indicators across aging depending on multimorbidity and physical activity status.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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