Prevalence of Multimorbidity and Its Associated Factors among Residents in the Coastal Region of Southern Karnataka, India: A Descriptive Analysis

Background: India is currently undergoing a rapid transition with respect to demography and lifestyle which has led to a change in magnitude and pattern of diseases across the country. There is an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with an increase in the prevalence of multimorbidity due to ageing population and longevity. Objective: The objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity and its determinants among the rural and semi-urban population in a coastal region of Karnataka. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the health and socio-demographic data available from the five peripheral health centres attached to a medical college was carried out. A total of 31,817 study participants above the age of 18 years were included in the study. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to check the association between socio-demographic characteristics and multimorbidity with p<0.05 being taken as statistically significant. Result: Out of the 31,817 study participants, 6.4% had multimorbidity. People >60 years were at sixty times higher odds of having multimorbidity as compared to people <60 years which was statistically significant. Multimorbidity were significantly higher among people belonging to minority religions [(Muslim: adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.24-1.83 and Christian: AOR=1.34; 95% CI=1.09-1.64)], those with 1-10 years of schooling (AOR=1.22; 95% CI=1.06-1.41), those who were currently unemployed/homemaker [(currently unemployed: AOR=2.14; 95% CI=1.88-2.45 and homemaker: AOR=2.21; 95% CI=1.88-2.59)] and residing in semi-urban area (AOR=1.28; 95% CI=1.15-1.44). Conclusions: Considering the higher proportion of multimorbidity among the aged and the vulnerable group there is an urgent need to devise screening guidelines and targeted interventions for chronic conditions among this specific population.