title: Multimorbidity, mortality, and physical activity.
abstract: Multimorbidity and physical inactivity are individually associated with increased mortality risk, but the possibility for physical activity to moderate the multimorbidity-mortality relationship has yet to be investigated.
  
  
  
  Data from the 1999-2006 NHANES were employed, with 16,091 participants constituting the analytic sample. Participants were followed through 2011, including a median follow-up of 99 months. Physical activity was assessed via self-report with multimorbidity assessed from physician diagnosis.
  
  
  
  After adjustment, for every 1 morbidity increase, participants had a 23% increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.19-1.28; p < 0.001). Multimorbidity mostly remained associated with all-cause mortality across all levels of physical activity, with the exception of those achieving four times the dose of the government guidelines.
  
  
  
  With the exception of those who engaged in high levels of self-reported physical activity, physical activity had a minimal effect on the multimorbidity-mortality relationship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, MS, USA pdloprin@olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Loprinzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Ovuokerie
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Addoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joyner
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D015897:Comorbidity; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D057566:Self Report; D014481:United States
keywords: Chronic disease; epidemiology; exercise; survival