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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Yu-Tzu WuORCiD, Professor Matthew Prina
© 2020 The Authors. Geriatrics & Gerontology International published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Geriatrics Society. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between multimorbidity, healthy aging and mortality. Methods: Using data from 9171 individuals aged ≥50 years at wave 2 and mortality data at wave 5 of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, a multiple linear regression model and a Cox proportional hazards model were used to investigate how multimorbidity patterns (identified as cardiorespiratory/arthritis/cataracts, metabolic and relatively healthy) were associated with a composite index of healthy aging (derived from 41 intrinsic capacity and functional ability items) and with mortality. Results: A total of 60% of the sample with multimorbidity had a moderate or high level of healthy aging. Both the cardiorespiratory/arthritis/cataracts group (n = 1826) and the metabolic group (n = 844) were negatively associated with healthy aging. The expected healthy aging index score decreased by 5.81 points (95% CI −6.69, −4.92) for the first group, and by 2.39 points (95% CI −3.54, −1.24) for the latter group. Only the cardiorespiratory/arthritis/cataracts group was positively associated with mortality. The risk of death for this group was 1.27-fold (95% CI: 1.14, 1.43) than the relatively healthy group. The relationship between multimorbidity patterns and mortality did not differ when considering levels of healthy aging. Conclusions: Although it is not impossible for people with multimorbidity to age healthily, those with the most complex combination of diseases are at higher risk of death and have lower levels of healthy aging. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 1126–1132.
Author(s): Nguyen H, Wu Y-T, Dregan A, Vitoratou S, Chua K-C, Prina AM
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Geriatrics and Gerontology International
Year: 2020
Volume: 20
Issue: 12
Pages: 1126-1132
Print publication date: 01/12/2020
Online publication date: 08/10/2020
Acceptance date: 15/09/2020
Date deposited: 14/08/2023
ISSN (print): 1444-1586
ISSN (electronic): 1447-0594
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14051
DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14051
PubMed id: 33030261
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