@article{ref1,
title="Multimorbidity and the inequalities of global ageing: a cross-sectional study of 28 countries using the World Health Surveys",
journal="BMC public health",
year="2015",
author="Afshar, Sara and Roderick, Paul J. and Kowal, Paul and Dimitrov, Borislav D. and Hill, Allan G.",
volume="15",
number="1",
pages="e776-e776",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity defined as the &quot;the coexistence of two or more chronic diseases&quot; in one individual, is increasing in prevalence globally. The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence of multimorbidity across low and middle-income countries (LMICs), and to investigate patterns by age and education, as a proxy for socio-economic status (SES). <br><br>METHODS: Chronic disease data from 28 countries of the World Health Survey (2003) were extracted and inter-country socio-economic differences were examined by gross domestic product (GDP). Regression analyses were applied to examine associations of education with multimorbidity by region adjusted for age and sex distributions. <br><br>RESULTS: The mean world standardized multimorbidity prevalence for LMICs was 7.8 % (95 % CI, 7.79 % - 7.83 %). In all countries, multimorbidity increased significantly with age. A positive but non-linear relationship was found between country GDP and multimorbidity prevalence. Trend analyses of multimorbidity by education suggest that there are intergenerational differences, with a more inverse education gradient for younger adults compared to older adults. Higher education was significantly associated with a decreased risk of multimorbidity in the all-region analyses. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Multimorbidity is a global phenomenon, not just affecting older adults in HICs. Policy makers worldwide need to address these health inequalities, and support the complex service needs of a growing multimorbid population.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-2458",
doi="10.1186/s12889-015-2008-7",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2008-7"
}