INVESTIGATING THE CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH MULTIMORBIDITY (=2 CO-OCCURRING CONDITIONS IN AN INDIVIDUAL) AMONG UNITED STATES ADULTS WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF ASTHMA
Author(s)
David R. Axon, PhD;
James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Chair & Professor, Cincinnati, OH, USA
James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Chair & Professor, Cincinnati, OH, USA
OBJECTIVES: Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition affecting millions of Americans, while multimorbidity is an increasingly prevalent and complex burden for individuals and the healthcare system that warrants further investigation. This study explored the characteristics associated with multimorbidity among adults with asthma in the United States (US).
METHODS: This cross-sectional database study utilized 2023 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. Variables were organized using Andersen’s Behavioral Model. Predisposing variables included age, sex, Hispanic, and race. Enabling variables included marriage, employment, insurance coverage, household poverty, and education status. Need variables included pain interference, limitations, health, mental health, smoking, and exercise status. A multivariable logistic regression model assessed the predisposing, enabling, and need variables associated with multimorbidity (≥2 co-occurring conditions in an individual) among US adults (≥18 years) with asthma. Cluster, strata, and weighting variables maintained the complex data structure and provided nationally representative data estimates. The a-priori alpha was 0.05.
RESULTS: This study included 1,418 US adults with asthma (weighted n=36,880,222). Of these, 910 had multimorbidity (weighted n=19,617,130) while 508 did not have multimorbidity (weighted n=17,263,092). Characteristics statistically associated with higher odds of multimorbidity (versus no multimorbidity) included: age 65+ versus 18-39 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=10.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]=5.8-18.9), age 40-64 versus 18-39 (aOR=3.9, 95% CI=2.5-6.2), married versus never married (aOR=1.8, 95% CI=1.1-2.8), widowed/divorced/separated versus never married (aOR=3.1, 95% CI=1.8-5.4), any private insurance versus uninsured (aOR=3.5, 95% CI=1.5-8.1), public insurance coverage versus uninsured (aOR=4.7, 95% CI=2.0-10.9), limitation versus no limitation (aOR=2.2, 95% CI=1.2-3.8), quite a bit/extreme versus no pain interference (aOR=3.6, 95% CI=1.7-10.0), and fair/poor versus excellent/very good health status (aOR=2.4, 95% CI=1.3-5.0).
CONCLUSIONS: This analysis identified the predisposing, enabling and need variables associated multimorbidity among adults with asthma in the US. Future work is needed to develop and evaluate interventions that target these variables to improve patient health outcomes.
METHODS: This cross-sectional database study utilized 2023 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. Variables were organized using Andersen’s Behavioral Model. Predisposing variables included age, sex, Hispanic, and race. Enabling variables included marriage, employment, insurance coverage, household poverty, and education status. Need variables included pain interference, limitations, health, mental health, smoking, and exercise status. A multivariable logistic regression model assessed the predisposing, enabling, and need variables associated with multimorbidity (≥2 co-occurring conditions in an individual) among US adults (≥18 years) with asthma. Cluster, strata, and weighting variables maintained the complex data structure and provided nationally representative data estimates. The a-priori alpha was 0.05.
RESULTS: This study included 1,418 US adults with asthma (weighted n=36,880,222). Of these, 910 had multimorbidity (weighted n=19,617,130) while 508 did not have multimorbidity (weighted n=17,263,092). Characteristics statistically associated with higher odds of multimorbidity (versus no multimorbidity) included: age 65+ versus 18-39 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=10.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]=5.8-18.9), age 40-64 versus 18-39 (aOR=3.9, 95% CI=2.5-6.2), married versus never married (aOR=1.8, 95% CI=1.1-2.8), widowed/divorced/separated versus never married (aOR=3.1, 95% CI=1.8-5.4), any private insurance versus uninsured (aOR=3.5, 95% CI=1.5-8.1), public insurance coverage versus uninsured (aOR=4.7, 95% CI=2.0-10.9), limitation versus no limitation (aOR=2.2, 95% CI=1.2-3.8), quite a bit/extreme versus no pain interference (aOR=3.6, 95% CI=1.7-10.0), and fair/poor versus excellent/very good health status (aOR=2.4, 95% CI=1.3-5.0).
CONCLUSIONS: This analysis identified the predisposing, enabling and need variables associated multimorbidity among adults with asthma in the US. Future work is needed to develop and evaluate interventions that target these variables to improve patient health outcomes.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH169
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
SDC: Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)