Abstract
IntroductionAdults with multiple (≥2) chronic conditions (MCCs) account for a large portion of US health care costs. Despite the increase in MCC rates with age, most people with MCCs are working age. The study objective was to compare adults with MCCs who were younger than 65 years with those aged 65 years or older on selected measures to better understand the differences between groups and inform interventions that could lower health care costs.MethodsData from respondents to the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (N = 201,711) were used to compare adults aged 65 or older with MCCs with those younger than 65 with MCCs in unadjusted and adjusted analyses on chronic conditions, quality of life measures, disability status, access to health care, and modifiable risk factors. MCCs were based on up to 12 chronic conditions (heart disease, stroke, asthma, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high cholesterol, cognitive impairment, diabetes, depression, chronic kidney disease, cancer other than skin, and hypertension).ResultsConsistent with 80% of all adults being younger than 65, more than 60% of adults with MCCs were younger than 65 years. Compared with adults aged 65 or older with MCCs, those younger than 65 were more likely to report asthma, cognitive impairment, depression, smoking, obesity, poorer access to health care, disability, and worse quality of life in both unadjusted and adjusted analysis.ConclusionTo decrease the burden of chronic diseases, adults younger than 65 with MCCs should get the treatment they need to reduce the chance of developing more chronic conditions as they age. The ultimate goal is to improve health status and reduce health care costs for everyone with MCCs.
Highlights
Adults with multiple (≥2) chronic conditions (MCCs) account for a large portion of US health care costs
To decrease the burden of chronic diseases, adults younger than 65 with MCCs should get the treatment they need to reduce the chance of developing more chronic conditions as they age
The MCC based on 5 chronic conditions (MCC5) included cardiovascular disease (CVD; heart attack, angina, coronary heart disease, or stroke), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), arthritis, and cognitive impairment while MCC12 split CVD into heart disease and stroke and added diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, and cancer other than skin
Summary
Adults with multiple (≥2) chronic conditions (MCCs) account for a large portion of US health care costs. Another study [7] found larger relative increases in MCCs over time among those aged 25 to 44 years compared with older adults and different chronic conditions by age group. Any of these risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing additional chronic conditions in adults of any age When considered collectively, these findings suggest the need for a better understanding of MCCs among younger adults to develop effective strategies to prevent more chronic conditions from developing and better manage existing ones. These findings suggest the need for a better understanding of MCCs among younger adults to develop effective strategies to prevent more chronic conditions from developing and better manage existing ones This understanding in turn could mitigate any increase in future health care costs
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