Multimorbidity, Functionality, Socioeconomic and Behavioral Conditions Linked with Mortality in a Cohort of Adults: A Latent Class Analysis

Abstract

Background: Aging and multimorbidity (MM) are not enough to explain patient heterogeneity and outcomes. The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of multimorbidity patterns and indicators of socioeconomic, behavioral, and functional dimensions on the risk of death in a cohort of people ≥50 years old.

Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 7,342 persons ≥50 years old from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS), stratified by age groups (50-64, 65-84, ≥85 years old). MM was defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic diseases (CDs), and additional analysis included functional, socioeconomic, and behavioral indicators. Prevalence was estimated using descriptive analysis. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify MM patterns, and logistic regression models were performed to estimate the risk of death at two and 18 years of follow-up.

Results: The most prevalent conditions were chronic pain, depression, and hypertension, with 60% of the subjects exhibiting MM at the initial evaluation. In all three age groups, indicators of the functional dimension were identified as risk factors for death. Economic precariousness was an additional risk factor in the 65-84 age group while living without a partner was an added risk factor in the ≥85 age group. For the 50-64 age group, "poor" self-perception of health and lack of physical exercise were identified as long-term risk factors for death.

Conclusion: MM is a complex phenomenon that requires the implementation of age-specific care models. Health, socioeconomic and behavioral conditions should be considered to mitigate the risk of premature death.

Keywords: Chronic disease; Functional status; Health behavior; Mortality; Multimorbidity; Socioeconomic status.