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Incidence and predictors of multimorbidity among a multiethnic population in Malaysia: a community-based longitudinal study

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Abstract

Background

Multimorbidity in older adults needs to be assessed as it is a risk factor for disability, cognitive decline, and mortality.

Aims

A community-based longitudinal study was performed to determine the incidence and to identify possible predictors of multimorbidity among multiethnic older adults population in Malaysia.

Methods

Comprehensive interview-based questionnaires were administered among 729 participants aged 60 years and above. Data were analyzed from the baseline data of older adults participating in the Towards Useful Aging (TUA) study (2014–2016) who were not affected by multimorbidity (349 without any chronic diseases and 380 with one disease). Multimorbidity was considered present in an individual reporting two or more chronic diseases.

Results

After 1½ years of follow-up, 18.8% of participants who were initially free of any diseases and 40.9% of those with one disease at baseline, developed multimorbidity. The incidence rates were 13.7 per 100 person-years and 34.2 per 100 person-years, respectively. Female gender, smoking, and irregular preparing of food (lifestyle) were predictors for incidence of multimorbidity, especially in those without any disease, while Body Mass Index (BMI) 22–27 kg/m2 and inadequate daily intake of iron were identified as predictors of multimorbidity among participants who already have one disease.

Conclusions

The incidence rates of multimorbidity among Malaysian older adults were between the ranges of 14–34 per 100 person-years at a 1½-year follow-up. Gender, smoking, BMI 22–27 kg/m2, inadequate daily intake of iron and lack of engagement in leisure or lifestyle physical activities were possible predictors in the development of multimorbidity. There is a need to formulate effective preventive management strategies to decelerate multimorbidity among older adults.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Ministry of Higher Education for funding our study via the Longitudinal Research Grant Schema (LRGS/BU/2012/UKM–UKM/K//01). We thanked all the co-researchers and respondents for making this project a success.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dietetic Programme and Research Centre for Healthy Aging and Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Norlela Mohd Hussin & Suzana Shahar

  2. Health Psychology Programme and Research Centre for Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Normah Che Din

  3. Physiotherapy Program Research Centre for Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh

  4. Ageing and Age-Associated Disorders Research Group, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Ai-Vyrn Chin

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Rosdinom Razali

  6. Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Jalan Bangsar, Federal Hill, 59000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mohd Azahadi Omar

Authors
  1. Norlela Mohd Hussin
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  2. Suzana Shahar
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  3. Normah Che Din
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  4. Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh
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  5. Ai-Vyrn Chin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suzana Shahar.

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Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights statement

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Participants in this study were recruited after obtaining informed consent.

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Hussin, N.M., Shahar, S., Din, N.C. et al. Incidence and predictors of multimorbidity among a multiethnic population in Malaysia: a community-based longitudinal study. Aging Clin Exp Res 31, 215–224 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-1007-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-1007-9

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