title: Spatial Associations of Multiple Chronic Conditions Among Older Adults.
abstract: Multimorbidity, the presence of two or more chronic conditions in an individual, presents a major challenge for meeting the health care needs of older adults. This study advances understanding of multiple chronic conditions by using local colocation quotients to reveal spatial associations for five chronic conditions (arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and pulmonary disease) in a statewide panel of older adults in New Jersey. Among adults with three or more conditions, large concentrations of Arthritis-Heart Disease-Pulmonary Disease, Arthritis-Hypertension-Pulmonary Disease, and Diabetes-Heart Disease-Hypertension were observed, each triad located in different regions of the state. Individuals with other triads of conditions, in contrast, were distributed among all older adults in the sample as expected with no areas of local concentration. The study provides gerontologists with a new and effective method for uncovering geographical patterns in combinations of chronic conditions among the populations they serve, thereby enabling more effective interventions.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Connecticut, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Cromley
authors.affiliation: 2 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson-Genderson
authors.affiliation: 3 Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Allison R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Heid
authors.affiliation: 3 Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pruchno
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D000076322:Multimorbidity; D000071069:Multiple Chronic Conditions / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D062206:Spatial Analysis
keywords: chronic disease; joint disease mapping; multimorbidity; older adults; spatial association