Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34350127›Full record

ReviewJournal of multimorbidity and comorbidity

The incidence of multimorbidity and patterns in accumulation of chronic conditions: A systematic review.

Prtha Kudesia, Banafsheh Salimarouny, Meagan Stanley, Martin Fortin, Moira Stewart, Amanda Terry, Bridget L Ryan

Open access · diamondAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of multimorbidity and comorbidity. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 50 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
50citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
11.6field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

50 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 98 citations in OpenAlex.

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  12. Association of multimorbidity trajectories from early adulthood through middle age with middle-age physical function.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Prtha KudesiaSchulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-7399-4980
Banafsheh SalimarounySchulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Meagan StanleyAllyn & Betty Taylor Library, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Martin FortinDepartment of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-9874-3771
Moira StewartCentre for Studies in Family Medicine & Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Amanda TerrySchulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Bridget L RyanCentre for Studies in Family Medicine & Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-9080-5635
Western University · CAUniversité de Sherbrooke · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Multimorbidity, the presence of 1+ chronic condition in an individual, remains one of the greatest challenges to health on a global scale. Although the prevalence of multimorbidity has been well-established, its incidence is not fully understood. This systematic review determined the incidence of multimorbidity across the lifespan; the order in which chronic conditions accumulate to result in multimorbidity; and cataloged methods used to determine and report accumulation of chronic conditions resulting in multimorbidity. Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane electronic databases. Two independent reviewers evaluated studies for inclusion and performed quality assessments. Of 36 included studies, there was high heterogeneity in study design and operational definitions of multimorbidity. Studies reporting incidence (n = 32) reported a median incidence rate of 30.7 per 1,000 person-years (IQR 39.5 per 1,000 person-years) and a median cumulative incidence of 2.8% (IQR 28.7%). Incidence was notably higher for persons with older age and 1+ chronic conditions at baseline. Studies reporting patterns in accumulation of chronic conditions (n = 5) reported hypertensive and heart diseases, and diabetes, as among the common starting conditions resulting in later multimorbidity. Methods used to discern patterns were highly heterogenous, ranging from the use of latent growth trajectories to divisive cluster analyses, and presentation using alluvial plots to cluster trajectories. Studies reporting the incidence of multimorbidity and patterns in accumulation of chronic conditions vary greatly in study designs and definitions used. To allow for more accurate estimations and comparison, studies must be transparent and consistent in operational definitions of multimorbidity applied.

Indexed as

accumulationepidemiologyincidenceMultimorbiditysystematic review

Identifiers

PMID34350127
PMCPMC8287424
OpenAlexW3183761758

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.