title: The influence of socioeconomic deprivation on multimorbidity at different ages: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multimorbidity occurs at a younger age in individuals in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation but little is known about the 'typology' of multimorbidity in different age groups and its association with socioeconomic status.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterise multimorbidity type and most common conditions in a large nationally representative primary care dataset in terms of age and deprivation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of 1 272 685 adults in Scotland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multimorbidity type of participants (physical-only, mental-only, mixed physical, and mental) and most common conditions were analysed according to age and deprivation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multimorbidity increased with age, ranging from 8.1% in those aged 25-34 to 76.1% for those aged ≥75 years. Physical-only (56% of all multimorbidity) was the most common type of multimorbidity in those aged ≥55 years, and did not vary substantially with deprivation. Mental-only was uncommon (4% of all multimorbidity), whereas mixed physical and mental (40% of all multimorbidity) was the most common type of multimorbidity in those aged <55 years and was two- to threefold more common in the most deprived compared with the least deprived in most age groups. Ten conditions (seven physical and three mental) accounted for the top five most common conditions in people with multimorbidity in all age groups. Depression and pain featured in the top five conditions across all age groups. Deprivation was associated with a higher prevalence of depression, drugs misuse, anxiety, dyspepsia, pain, coronary heart disease, and diabetes in multimorbid patients at different ages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mixed physical and mental multimorbidity is common across the life-span and is exacerbated by deprivation from early adulthood onwards.
authors: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors: Gary
authors: G
authors: McLean
authors: Primary Care Research Unit, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Gunn
authors: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors: Sally
authors: S
authors: Wyke
authors: Quality, Safety and Informatics Research Group, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
authors: Bruce
authors: B
authors: Guthrie
authors: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors: Graham C M
authors: GC
authors: Watt
authors: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors: David N
authors: DN
authors: Blane
authors: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors: Stewart W
authors: SW
authors: Mercer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D015995:Prevalence; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: chronic disease; mental health; multimorbidity; primary health care; socioeconomic status