TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk factors for multimorbidity in adulthood: A systematic review
AU - Tazzeo, C
AU - Zucchelli, A
AU - Vetrano, DL
AU - Demurtas, J
AU - Smith, L
AU - Schoene, D
AU - Sanchez-Rodriguez, D
AU - Onder, G
AU - Balci, C
AU - Bonetti, S
AU - Grande, G
AU - Torbahn, G
AU - Veronese, N
AU - Marengoni, A
N1 - Torban: Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Klinikum Nürnberg, Universit ̈atsklinik der Paracelsus Medizinischen Privatuniversit ̈at Nürnberg, Nuremberg, Germany; Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Background: Multimorbidity, the coexistence of multiple chronic diseases in an individual, is highly prevalent and challenging for healthcare systems. However, its risk factors remain poorly understood.Objective: To systematically review studies reporting multimorbidity risk factors.Methods: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review was conducted, searching electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus). Inclusion criteria were studies addressing multimorbidity transitions, trajectories, continuous disease counts, and specific patterns. Non-human studies and participants under 18 were excluded. Associations between risk factors and multimorbidity onset were reported.Results: Of 20,806 identified studies, 68 were included, with participants aged 18-105 from 23 countries. Nine risk factor categories were identified, including demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors. Older age, low education, obesity, hypertension, depression, low pysical function were generally positively associated with multimorbidity. Results for factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary patterns were inconsistent. Study quality was moderate, with 16.2% having low risk of bias.Conclusions: Several risk factors seem to be consistently associated with an increased risk of accumulating chronic diseases over time. However, heterogeneity in settings, exposure and outcome, and baseline health of partici-pants hampers robust conclusions.
AB - Background: Multimorbidity, the coexistence of multiple chronic diseases in an individual, is highly prevalent and challenging for healthcare systems. However, its risk factors remain poorly understood.Objective: To systematically review studies reporting multimorbidity risk factors.Methods: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review was conducted, searching electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus). Inclusion criteria were studies addressing multimorbidity transitions, trajectories, continuous disease counts, and specific patterns. Non-human studies and participants under 18 were excluded. Associations between risk factors and multimorbidity onset were reported.Results: Of 20,806 identified studies, 68 were included, with participants aged 18-105 from 23 countries. Nine risk factor categories were identified, including demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors. Older age, low education, obesity, hypertension, depression, low pysical function were generally positively associated with multimorbidity. Results for factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary patterns were inconsistent. Study quality was moderate, with 16.2% having low risk of bias.Conclusions: Several risk factors seem to be consistently associated with an increased risk of accumulating chronic diseases over time. However, heterogeneity in settings, exposure and outcome, and baseline health of partici-pants hampers robust conclusions.
U2 - 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102039
DO - 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102039
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37647994
SN - 1568-1637
VL - 91
JO - AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
JF - AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
ER -