Observational studyBMC geriatrics2022
Multimorbidity and long-term disability and physical functioning decline in middle-aged and older Americans: an observational study.
Observational study in BMC geriatrics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 37 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
37 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 40 citations in OpenAlex.
- Associations Between Multimorbidity, Polypharmacy and Oral Conditions in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Gerodontology · 2026Pooled it
- Effectiveness and Implementation of Digital Health Interventions on Physiological, Psychological, and Functional Outcomes in Adults With Multimorbidity: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Pooled it
- The prevalence of disability in older adults with multimorbidity: a meta-analysis.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2024Pooled it
- Association between Comorbidity Indices and Functional Autonomy in Individuals with Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review.The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease · 2024Pooled it
- People With Lowest Physical Functioning Scores Showed Greatest Improvement After Tirzepatide Treatment.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) · 2026Trial
- The association between HIV infection, disability and lifestyle activity among middle-aged and older adults: an analytical cross-sectional study in Ivory Coast (the VIRAGE study).BMC public health · 2024Trial
- Self-Care Experiences and Support Needs of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Multimorbidity: A Qualitative Study Informed by the Caring Life-Course Theory.Journal of clinical nursing · 2026Article
- Validating ICD code case definitions for condition case ascertainment in multimorbidity measurement: a retrospective chart review.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2026Article
- Multimorbidity Trajectories Across Three National Ageing Cohorts: Early Branching States and Persistent Cardiometabolic-Musculoskeletal Profiles.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Allostatic Load, Multimorbidity, and Overall and Cancer-Specific Survival among Older Adults in the United States.Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2026Article
- Older Adults' Self-Care and Family Caregiver Contribution in Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Dyadic Qualitative Study.Journal of advanced nursing · 2026Article
- Multimorbidity and functioning disparities in retired older adults: longitudinal trajectories, disease clusters, and mediating mechanisms.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- Is Ferroptosis the Mechanistic Bridge Connecting Iron Dysregulation to Muscle Wasting and Functional Decline in Aging?Aging cell · 2026Review
- Assessment of Functional Capacity and Its Sociodemographic and Health Determinants in Older Adults from a Region of Peru.Risk management and healthcare policy · 2026Article
- Burden of geriatric and cognitive disorders and the impact of integrated care models on morbidity, functional decline, and health service utilization among older adults.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use and its association with hospitalization among older adults with chronic disease in the Amhara region, Ethiopia: a multicenter prospective cohort study.Therapeutic advances in drug safety · 2026Article
- Disease spectrum and comorbidity patterns of malignant neoplasms: a multi-center hospital-based retrospective analysis of inpatient insurance claims data.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Article
- The Dynamic Roles of Repressor Element 1-Silencing Transcription Factor (REST): A Double-Edged Sword in Neural Health and Disease.Molecular neurobiology · 2025Review
- Comparison of the 36-Item WHODAS 2.0 Functional Assessment in Older Adults by Face-to-Face or Telephone Interviews: A Randomised Crossover Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- 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 · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMultimorbidity is highly prevalent and associated with several adverse health outcomes, including functional limitations. While maintaining physical functioning is relevant for all adults, identifying those with multimorbidity at risk for faster rates of physical functioning decline may help to target interventions to delay the onset and progression of disability. We quantified the association of multimorbidity with rates of long-term disability and objective physical functioning decline.
methodsIn the Health and Retirement Study, we computed the Multimorbidity-Weighted Index (MWI) by assigning previously validated weights (based on physical functioning) to each chronic condition. We used an adjusted negative binomial regression to assess the association of MWI with disability (measured by basic and instrumental activities of daily living [ADLs, IADLs]) over 16 years, and linear mixed effects models to assess the association of MWI with gait speed and grip strength over 8 years.
resultsAmong 16,616 participants (mean age 67.3, SD 9.7 years; 57.8% women), each additional MWI point was associated with a 10% increase in incidence rate of disability (IRR: 1.10; 95%CI: 1.09, 1.10). In 2,748 participants with data on gait speed and grip strength, each additional MWI point was associated with a decline in gait speed of 0.004 m/s (95%CI: -0.006, -0.001). The association with grip strength was not statistically significant (-0.01 kg, 95%CI: -0.73, 0.04). The rate of decline increased with time for all outcomes, with a significant interaction between time and MWI for disability progression only.
conclusionMultimorbidity, as weighted on physical functioning, was associated with long-term disability, including faster rates of disability progression, and decline in gait speed. Given the importance of maintaining physical functioning and preserving functional independence, MWI is a readily available tool that can help identify adults to target early on for interventions.
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Registered trials
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.