[Chronic disease, mortality and disability in an elderly Spanish population: the FRADEA study].
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to analyse the relationships between the major chronic diseases and multiple morbidity, with mortality, incident disability in basic activities of daily living, and loss of mobility in the elderly.


METHODS
A total of 943 participants were selected from the FRADEA Study, using available baseline data of chronic diseases, and at the follow-up visit of mortality, incident disability, and loss of mobility. The analysis was made of the unadjusted and adjusted association between the number of chronic diseases, the number of 14 pre-selected diseases, and the presence of two or more chronic diseases (multiple morbidity) with adverse health events recorded.


RESULTS
Participants with a higher number of diseases (OR 1.11; 95% CI: 1.02-1.22), and 14 pre-selected diseases (OR 1.19; 95% CI: 1.03-1.38) had a higher adjusted mortality risk, but not a higher incident disease or mobility loss risk. Subjects with multiple morbidity had a higher non-significant mortality risk (HR 1.45; 95% CI: 0.87-2.43), than those without multiple morbidity. Disability-free mean time in participants with and without multiple morbidity was 846±34 and 731±17 days, respectively (Log-rank χ(2) 7.45. P=.006), and with our without mobility loss was 818±32 and 696±13 days, respectively (Log rank χ(2) 10.99. P=.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple morbidity was not associated with mortality, incident disability in ADL, or mobility loss in adults older than 70 years, although if mortality is taken into account, the number of chronic diseases is linear.
Servicio de Geriatría, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, España.
Sergio A
SA
Alfonso Silguero
Servicio de Geriatría, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, España.
Marta
M
Martínez-Reig
Servicio de Geriatría, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, España.
Llanos
L
Gómez Arnedo
Servicio de Geriatría, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, España.
Gema
G
Juncos Martínez
Servicio de Geriatría, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, España.
Luis
L
Romero Rizos
Servicio de Geriatría, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, España. Electronic address: pabizanda@sescam.jccm.es.
Pedro
P
Abizanda Soler
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D013030:Spain
Anciano; Chronic disease; Disability; Discapacidad; Enfermedad crónica; Mortalidad; Mortality; Multimorbilidad; Multiple morbidity; Older adults