Abstract P383: Trends in Multimorbidity Among U.S. Adults With and Without Hypertension, 1999-2000 to 2017-2020

Abstract

Background: Most adults with hypertension have other chronic conditions. As obesity and diabetes are increasing among US adults, the prevalence of multimorbidity may have increased among US adults with hypertension. Methods: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to assess the trend in multimorbidity among US adults (ages ≥ 20 years) with (n = 24,646) and without (n = 24,189) hypertension from 1999-2000 through 2017-March 2020. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mm Hg, or use of antihypertensive medication. Multimorbidity was defined as the co-occurrence of ≥ 3 chronic conditions, not including hypertension. Chronic conditions were selected based on a framework from a US Health and Human Services report and data available in NHANES and included dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, diabetes, obesity, liver fibrosis, chronic kidney disease, asthma, lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis), arthritis, hepatitis-C, cancer, and depression. Results: From 1999-2000 to 2017-2020, the age-adjusted mean number of chronic conditions increased from 2.4 to 3.0 among US adults with hypertension and from 1.9 to 2.2 among US adults without hypertension (Figure, top panel). During this period, the age-adjusted prevalence of multimorbidity increased from 42% to 56% among US adults with hypertension and from 32% to 34% among US adults without hypertension (Figure, bottom panel). In 2017-2020, after age, race/ethnicity, and sex adjustment, the mean difference in the number of chronic conditions among US adults with versus without hypertension was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.56 - 0.84). Multimorbidity was 1.50 (95% CI: 1.34 - 1.68) times more common among US adults with versus without hypertension. Conclusion: Multimorbidity has increased among US adults, and its prevalence is higher among adults with versus without hypertension.