Trends of Multimorbidity in 15 European Countries: a Population-based Study in Community-dwelling Adults Aged 50 and over

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2021 Jan 8

PMID 33413239

Citations 35

Authors

Dyego L B Souza

Albert Oliveras-Fabregas

Eduard Minobes-Molina

Marianna de Camargo Cancela

Paola Galbany-Estragues

Javier Jerez-Roig

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The objective of this work was to analyse the prevalence trends of multimorbidity among European community-dwelling adults.

Methods: A temporal series study based on waves 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) was conducted, and community-dwelling participants aged 50+ (n = 274,614) from 15 European countries were selected for the period 2004-2017. Prevalence, adjusted by age, Average Annual Percentage Change (APC) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were all calculated. Trend analyses were realised by period, age groups and groups of diseases.

Results: The results showed a large variability in the prevalence of multimorbidity in adults aged 50 and over among European countries. Increase in the prevalence of multimorbidity in the countries of central Europe (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany and Switzerland) and Spain in both sexes, and in the Netherlands among men. Stability was observed in northern and eastern European countries. Musculoskeletal and neurodegenerative groups showed more significant changes in the trend analyses.

Conclusions: This information can be useful for policy makers when planning health promotion and prevention policies addressing modifiable risk factors in health.

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