Relationship between multimorbidity, demographic factors and mortality: findings from the UK Biobank Cohort

Jani, B. D. , Hanlon, P. , Nicholl, B. I. , McQueenie, R., Gallacher, K. I. , Lee, D. and Mair, F. S. (2019) Relationship between multimorbidity, demographic factors and mortality: findings from the UK Biobank Cohort. BMC Medicine, 17, 74. (doi: 10.1186/s12916-019-1305-x) (PMID:30967141) (PMCID:PMC6456941)

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Abstract

Background: Multimorbidity is associated with higher mortality, but the relationship with cancer and cardiovascular mortality is unclear. The influence of demographics and type of condition on the relationship of multimorbidity with mortality remains unknown. We examine the relationship between multimorbidity (number/type) and cause of mortality and the impact of demographic factors on this relationship. Methods: Data source: the UK Biobank; 500,769 participants; 37-73 years; 53.7% female. Exposure variables: number and type of long-term conditions (LTCs) (N = 43) at baseline, modelled separately. Cox regression models were used to study the impact of LTCs on all-cause/vascular/cancer mortality during median 7-year follow-up. All-cause mortality regression models were stratified by age/sex/socioeconomic status. Results: All-cause mortality is 2.9% (14,348 participants). Of all deaths, 8350 (58.2%) were cancer deaths and 2985 (20.8%) vascular deaths. Dose-response relationship is observed between the increasing number of LTCs and all-cause/cancer/vascular mortality. A strong association is observed between cardiometabolic multimorbidity and all three clinical outcomes; non-cardiometabolic multimorbidity (excluding cancer) is associated with all-cause/vascular mortality. All-cause mortality risk for those with ≥ 4 LTCs was nearly 3 times higher than those with no LTCs (HR 2.79, CI 2.61–2.98); for ≥ 4 cardiometabolic conditions, it was > 3 times higher (HR 3.20, CI 2.56–4.00); and for ≥ 4 non-cardiometabolic conditions (excluding cancer), it was 50% more (HR 1.50, CI 1.36–1.67). For those with ≥ 4 LTCs, morbidity combinations that included cardiometabolic conditions, chronic kidney disease, cancer, epilepsy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, osteoporosis and connective tissue disorders had the greatest impact on all-cause mortality. In the stratified model by age/sex, absolute all-cause mortality was higher among the 60–73 age group with an increasing number of LTCs; however, the relative effect size of the increasing number of LTCs on higher mortality risk was larger among those 37–49 years, especially men. While socioeconomic status was a significant predictor of all-cause mortality, mortality risk with increasing number of LTCs remained constant across different socioeconomic gradients. Conclusions: Multimorbidity is associated with higher all-cause/cancer/vascular mortality. Type, as opposed to number, of LTCs may have an important role in understanding the relationship between multimorbidity and mortality. Multimorbidity had a greater relative impact on all-cause mortality in middle-aged as opposed to older populations, particularly males, which deserves exploration.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This study was funded by a catalyst grant from Chief Scientist Office (reference number CGA/16/39) and a NHS Research for Scotland Career Research Fellowship funded BDJ.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Jani, Dr Bhautesh and Gallacher, Dr Katie and Lee, Professor Duncan and Mair, Professor Frances and Nicholl, Dr Barbara and McQueenie, Dr Ross and Hanlon, Dr Peter
Authors: Jani, B. D., Hanlon, P., Nicholl, B. I., McQueenie, R., Gallacher, K. I., Lee, D., and Mair, F. S.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care
College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Statistics
Journal Name:BMC Medicine
Publisher:BMC
ISSN:1741-7015
ISSN (Online):1741-7015
Published Online:10 April 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 The Authors
First Published:First published in BMC Medicine 17:74
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
756022Multimorbidity in UK BiobankBarbara NichollOffice of the Chief Scientist (CSO)CGA/16/39IHW - GENERAL PRACTICE & PRIMARY CARE