Open AccessPrevalence of Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity Among the Elderly Population in Sweden
Author(s) -
Alessandra Marengoni,
Bengt Winblad,
Anita Karp,
Laura Fratiglioni
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2007.121137
Subject(s) - multimorbidity , medicine , socioeconomic status , comorbidity , chronic disease , gerontology , population , demography , environmental health , psychiatry , family medicine , sociology
We explored the role of age, gender, and socioeconomic status in the occurrence of chronic diseases and multimorbidity in 1099 elderly participants in the Kungsholmen Project. Cardiovascular and mental diseases were the most common chronic disorders. Of the participants, 55% had multimorbidity. Advanced age, female gender, and lower education were independently associated with a more than 50% increased risk for multimorbidity. Multimorbidity is the most common clinical picture of the elderly and may be increased by unhealthy behaviors linked to education.