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Trajectories in long-term condition accumulation and mortality in older adults: a group-based trajectory modelling approach using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Abstract:

Objectives: To classify older adults into clusters based on accumulating long-term conditions (LTC) as trajectories, characterise clusters and quantify their associations with all-cause mortality.


Design: We conducted a longitudinal study using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing over 9 years (n=15 091 aged 50 years and older). Group-based trajectory modelling was used to classify people into clusters based on accumulating LTC over time. Derived clusters were used to quantify the associations between trajectory memberships, sociodemographic characteristics and all-cause mortality by conducting regression models.


Results: Five distinct clusters of accumulating LTC trajectories were identified and characterised as: ‘no LTC’ (18.57%), ‘single LTC’ (31.21%), ‘evolving multimorbidity’ (25.82%), ‘moderate multimorbidity’ (17.12%) and ‘high multimorbidity’ (7.27%). Increasing age was consistently associated with a larger number of LTCs. Ethnic minorities (adjusted OR=2.04; 95% CI 1.40 to 3.00) were associated with the ‘high multimorbidity’ cluster. Higher education and paid employment were associated with a lower likelihood of progression over time towards an increased number of LTCs. All the clusters had higher all-cause mortality than the ‘no LTC’ cluster.


Conclusions: The development of multimorbidity in the number of conditions over time follows distinct trajectories. These are determined by non-modifiable (age, ethnicity) and modifiable factors (education and employment). Stratifying risk through clustering will enable practitioners to identify older adults with a higher likelihood of worsening LTC over time to tailor effective interventions to prevent mortality.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074902

Authors

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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Clinical Neurosciences
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-0836-9385



Publisher:
BMJ Publishing Group
Journal:
BMJ Open More from this journal
Volume:
14
Issue:
7
Article number:
e074902
Place of publication:
England
Publication date:
2024-07-11
Acceptance date:
2024-06-12
DOI:
EISSN:
2044-6055
ISSN:
2044-6055
Pmid:
38991683


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
2014834
Local pid:
pubs:2014834
Deposit date:
2024-07-29
ARK identifier:

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