Multimorbidity and its association with health-related quality of life among older adults in india: a cross-sectional analysis of LASI wave-1.

Abstract

Background: Multimorbidity is common among older people and is associated with a reduction in quality of life, including physical and psychological dimensions of health. This study aims to examine the association between multimorbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by gender and key socioeconomic factors among older adults in India.

Method: The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave-I data were used, and older persons aged 60 and above were selected for the study, which included 30,716 final samples. The HRQoL was measured based on a EuroQol Five-Dimension (EQ-5D) measure. The preliminary study used descriptive statistics to examine the baseline characteristics of the sample, the prevalence of chronic conditions, and the mean EQ-5D score. Aside from that, the findings on the association of EQ-5D score with exposure and the independent variables were carved out using a multiple linear regression model. Furthermore, the results were stratified by gender and tested for interactions.

Results: This study revealed that 23.8% of older adults had multimorbidity, with a higher prevalence among females and older age groups. Hypertension (32.7%), bone/joint diseases (19.6%), diabetes (14.3%), and stroke (2.5%) were common conditions. Individuals with multimorbidity exhibited significantly lower HRQoL scores (mean: 10.53) compared to those with single (8.98) or no morbidity (7.54). Adjusted regression models confirmed that multimorbidity (β = 2.19, 95%CI: 2.04,2.35) and female gender (β = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.71,1.00) strongly predicted poorer HRQoL. The association between multimorbidity and HRQoL was stronger in females compared to males. Lower socioeconomic status, rural residence, and poor self-rated health further exacerbated these disparities. These findings highlight the negative impact of multimorbidity on the physical and psychological well-being of older adults in India.

Conclusions: This study found that multimorbidity significantly reduces HRQoL among older adults in India, with women, individuals of lower socioeconomic status, and those reporting poor self-rated health experiencing the most significant burden. These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive, equity-focused public health strategies aimed at managing chronic conditions and improving quality of life among the ageing population in India.