Ageing, multimorbidity, and quality of life
A mediation analysis using longitudinal ageing study in India
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22075542 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bharti Singh (0000-0003-2848-760X, International Institute for Population Sciences), Ajay Kumar (0000-0003-1762-6627, International Institute for Population Sciences, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Pages | 1562479-1562479 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-25 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1562479 |
| PMID | 40352836 |
| OpenAlex | W4409826675 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 48 |
Background The ageing population in India is growing rapidly, but the decline in healthy life expectancy is more pronounced. This trend has been compounded and constituted by poor quality of life (QoL), with the salient underlying role of multimorbidity as the leading risk factor. This study primarily aimed to assess the intermediating role of multimorbidity as the risk factor for exogenous socioeconomic and demographic factors on QoL. Methods This study used data from 73,396 individuals aged 45 years and above from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), Wave – 1, 2017–18. Multimorbidity was defined as the simultaneous existence of two or more chronic conditions in an individual. The QoL score was constructed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) by utilizing 21 factors under six domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationship, environmental satisfaction, life satisfaction and general health), with the composite QoL score ranging from 0 to 100. Further, the Structural equation model (SEM) was used to assess the role of multimorbidity as the intermediating risk factor for exogenous factors on QoL. Results Distributions of morbidities burden were skewed toward non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and sequentially escalated multimorbidity burden was observed among the oldest of old age groups. After the age of 75, there was a steep decline in the gradient of QoL score. The SEM results showed a substantial rise in multimorbidity burden leading to poor QoL with a magnitude of β = −2.39, p < 0.001. Age and sex of the respondents exhibited a significant negative impact on QoL, impacting it directly ( β = −1.25; β = −1.19) as well as indirectly through multimorbidity ( β = −0.11). In contrast, childhood health demonstrated a solely direct impact on QoL, with no significant indirect pathway through multimorbidity. This study further revealed that urban residence had a pronounced positive direct effect on QoL ( β = 0.9, p < 0.001). Conclusion This study underscores the role of multimorbidity as a key mediator between socioeconomic and demographic factors on QoL among older adults in India. With the increasing prevalence of multimorbidity, policies should prioritize integrated geriatric healthcare services. Strengthening healthcare for early screening and affordable chronic disease management is essential
Ageing · Comorbidity · Longitudinal study · Mediation · Multimorbidity · Psychiatry · Social science · Sociology · Chronic Disease Management Strategies · Diabetes Management and Education · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Gerontology
Socioeconomic status and multimorbidity
Aging with multimorbidity
Hypertension among older adults in low- and middle-income countries
Comorbidity or multimorbidity
Multimorbidity
Childhood Adiposity, Adult Adiposity, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Childhood obesity
Nutrition and Health Outcomes Associated with Food Insecurity and Hunger
The impact of multimorbidity on adult physical and mental health in low- and middle-income countries
Epidemiology of multimorbidity and implications for health care, research, and medical education
The nutrition transition to a stage of high obesity and noncommunicable disease prevalence dominated by ultra‐processed foods is not inevitable
Inequalities in non-communicable diseases and effective responses
Non-communicable disease multimorbidity among tribal older adults in India
Social determinants of multimorbidity and multiple functional limitations among the ageing population of England, 2002–2015
Multimorbidity and Complex Multimorbidity in India
Changes in Child Nutrition in India
Multimorbidity, health Literacy, and quality of life among older adults in an urban slum in India
Socioeconomic inequalities in risk factors for non communicable diseases in low-income and middle-income countries
Multimorbidity and the inequalities of global ageing
Multimorbidity and its associated risk factors among older adults in India
Chronic physical conditions, physical multimorbidity, and quality of life among adults aged ≥ 50 years from six low- and middle-income countries
Common patterns of morbidity and multi-morbidity and their impact on health-related quality of life
Relationship between multimorbidity, functional limitation, and quality of life among middle-aged and older adults
Changes in life-space mobility and quality of life among community-dwelling older people
A life-cycle approach to food and nutrition security in India
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |