Abstract
BackgroundThe co-occurrence of two or more chronic medical conditions in an individual is defined as multimorbidity. Lifestyle factors, including poor dietary patterns, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption are key modifiable risk factors that play a role in the development of chronic medical conditions and potentially multimorbidity. The current study aimed to examine the level of physical activity among those with multimorbidity and its association with socio-demographic factors, clinical parameters, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among community-dwelling adults attending a primary care clinic in Singapore.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with multimorbidity between August 2014 and June 2016. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) Short Form. HRQoL was measured using the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D-3 L). Data on clinical parameters including hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and blood pressure were collected from patient records. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and linear regression were performed to determine the association between IPAQ and clinical health outcomes, as well as HRQoL measures, respectively.ResultsIn all, 932 respondents with multimorbidity were recruited for the study. Of these, 500 (53.8%) had low physical activity, 325 (35.0%) had moderate physical activity, while 104 (11.2%) had high physical activity. Respondents who were insufficiently active had significantly higher odds of being overweight/ obese (OR: 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–1.9, p = 0.01) as compared to those who were sufficiently physically active. The multiple linear regression model revealed that insufficient activity level was negatively associated with EQ-5D index score (β = − 0.05, p < 0.001) and the visual analogue scale (β = − 4.4, p < 0.001) measuring HRQoL as compared to sufficient activity levels in respondents with multimorbidity.ConclusionsThe low levels of physical activity among patients with multimorbidity, and its association with overweight status and poorer HRQoL emphasizes the importance of increasing physical activity in this population. Family physicians treating patients with chronic diseases need to continue encouraging and helping individuals to initiate and maintain appropriate physical activity levels.
Highlights
The co-occurrence of multiple chronic medical conditions in an individual has been defined as multimorbidity in the research literature [1, 2]
We hypothesised that majority of patients with multimorbidity would have low physical activity and that low physical activity would be associated with poorer control of the chronic physical conditions and a lower quality of life. Sample This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2014 and June 2016 in a primary care clinic which is part of the National Healthcare Group (NHG), serving the northern part of Singapore with an average daily attendance of about 1400 patients
The results indicated that respondents who were insufficiently active had significantly higher odds of being overweight/obese based on World Health Organization (WHO) international recommendation (p = 0.01), this finding was not replicated with the WHO Asian population recommendation for body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.15)
Summary
The co-occurrence of multiple chronic medical conditions in an individual has been defined as multimorbidity in the research literature [1, 2]. 16.3% of Singapore residents in a population survey were found to have two or more chronic medical conditions with hypertension or high blood pressure being reported most frequently (20%), followed by diabetes or high blood sugar (9%). The study found that health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among those with multimorbidity was found to be significantly lower as compared to those without chronic conditions [18]. A study among older adults attending primary care clinics in Singapore found that the most commonly reported chronic conditions were hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, and multimorbidity was associated with lower HRQoL [19]. The current study aimed to examine the level of physical activity among those with multimorbidity and its association with socio-demographic factors, clinical parameters, and healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL) among community-dwelling adults attending a primary care clinic in Singapore
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
