Associations between multimorbidity and additional burden for working-age adults with specific forms of musculoskeletal conditions: a cross-sectional study

Dianne B Lowe,Sophie J Hill,Michael J Taylor

doi:10.1186/s12891-017-1496-2

Dianne B Lowe, Sophie J Hill + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-017-1496-2

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Abstract

BackgroundMultiple health conditions are increasingly a problem for adults with musculoskeletal conditions. However, multimorbidity research has focused primarily on the elderly and those with a limited subset of musculoskeletal disorders. We sought to determine whether associations between multimorbidity and additional burden differ with specific forms of musculoskeletal conditions among working-age adults.MethodsData were sourced from a nationally representative Australian survey. Specific musculoskeletal conditions examined were osteoarthritis; inflammatory arthritis; other forms of arthritis or arthropathies; musculoskeletal conditions not elsewhere specified; gout; back pain; soft tissue disorders; or osteoporosis. Multimorbidity was defined as the additional presence of one or more of the Australian National Health Priority Area conditions. Burden was assessed by self-reported measures of: (i) self-rated health (ii) musculoskeletal-related healthcare and medicines utilisation and, (iii) general healthcare utilisation. Associations between multimorbidity and additional health or healthcare utilisation burden among working-age adults (aged 18 – 64 years of age) with specific musculoskeletal conditions were estimated using logistic regression, adjusting for confounders. Interaction terms were fitted to identify whether there were specific musculoskeletal conditions where multimorbidity was more strongly associated with poorer health or greater healthcare utilisation than in the remaining musculoskeletal group.ResultsAmong working-age adults, for each of the specified musculoskeletal conditions, multimorbidity was associated with similar, increased likelihood of additional self-rated health burden and certain types of healthcare utilisation. While there were differences in the relationships between multimorbidity and burden for each of the specific musculoskeletal conditions, no one specific musculoskeletal condition appeared to be consistently associated with greater additional health burden in the presence of multimorbidity across the majority of self-rated health burden and healthcare use measures.ConclusionsFor working-age people with any musculoskeletal conditions examined here, multimorbidity increases self-reported health and healthcare utilisation burden. As no one musculoskeletal condition appears consistently worse off in the presence of multimorbidity, there is a need to better understand and identify strategies that acknowledge and address the additional burden of concomitant conditions for working-age adults with a range of musculoskeletal conditions.

Highlights

Multiple health conditions are increasingly a problem for adults with musculoskeletal conditions
Chronic musculoskeletal conditions were reported by 36.1% of the working-age adults
Among the working-age adults, the prevalence of the chronic conditions included in the multimorbidity definition were as follows: mental health disorders 13.4%; asthma 9.7%; cardiovascular diseases (CVD) 5.2%; diabetes 3.4%; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 2.1%; and cancer 1.4% (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Multiple health conditions are increasingly a problem for adults with musculoskeletal conditions. We sought to determine whether associations between multimorbidity and additional burden differ with specific forms of musculoskeletal conditions among working-age adults. Musculoskeletal conditions are a grouping of clinically distinct but characteristically painful conditions affecting joints, bones and muscles. Musculoskeletal conditions affect all age groups, but are more common with increasing age. Nearly one in five working-age adults are diagnosed with a musculoskeletal condition [13,14,15]. For working-age adults, musculoskeletal conditions pose additional employment, reproductive health, social and financial challenges [3, 16,17,18,19]

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