Korean J Fam Pract.  2021 Feb;11(1):22-28. 10.21215/kjfp.2021.11.1.22.

Risk of Hospitalization by Multimorbidity in Middle-Aged Adults Using the 2013–2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Park SY
• Lee ES
• Yang YJ
• Yoon YS
• Lee JH
• Huh Y
• Park WJ
• Cheon JM
• Mun JW

• KMID: 2513124
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2021.11.1.22

Abstract

Background
Rapidly growing older population and recent lifestyle changes has led to increased prevalence of chronic diseases. Previous studies have shown that multimorbidity has been linked to greater health care services utilization, including hospitalization or emergency room admissions, by older adults. This study aimed to evaluate the association between multimorbidity and hospitalization in middle-aged adults using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).
Methods
Data from the 6th KNHANES (2013–2015) were used to identify the link between hospitalization and multimorbidity in a middle-aged population with one or more diseases (n=4,460). Multimorbidity was defined as the co-occurrence of three or more chronic conditions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was adopted to evaluate the association between multimorbidity and hospitalization within the previous 1 year after adjustment for age, sex, education, private insurance, and subjective health status.
Results
Prevalence of multimorbidity (≥3 chronic diseases) in the middle-aged population was 10.1%. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that hospital admission within the previous 1 year was associated with multimorbidity after adjusting for age, sex, education, private insurance, smoking, alcohol consumption frequency, and exercise (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.22–1.87). Subjective health status was an independent risk factor for hospitalization within the previous 1 year (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 2.49–4.02).
Conclusion
Multimorbidity is a factor associated with increased health care service use, such as hospitalization, in the middle-aged population. Strengthening the primary health care system could be required to effectively manage multimorbidity in the middle-aged population.

Keyword

Multimorbidity; Hospitalization; Subjective Healths; Middle Aged