Multimorbidity clusters and their contribution to well-being among the oldest old: Results based on a nationally representative sample in Germany
Issued Date
2025-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
01674943
eISSN
18726976
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85212322818
Pubmed ID
39700712
Journal Title
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Volume
130
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Vol.130 (2025)
Suggested Citation
Hajek A., Gyasi R.M., Kostev K., Soysal P., Veronese N., Smith L., Jacob L., Oh H., Pengpid S., Peltzer K., König H.H. Multimorbidity clusters and their contribution to well-being among the oldest old: Results based on a nationally representative sample in Germany. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Vol.130 (2025). doi:10.1016/j.archger.2024.105726 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/102852
Title
Multimorbidity clusters and their contribution to well-being among the oldest old: Results based on a nationally representative sample in Germany
Author's Affiliation
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu
College of Medical and Health Science
Centre de Recherche Epidémiologiques et Bio Statistiques de Sorbonne Paris Cité (CRESS)
Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi
African Population and Health Research Center
University of Southern California
Hôpital Fernand-Widal
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Scuola di Medicina e Chirurgia
University of the Free State
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)
Mahidol University
Southern Cross University
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Marburg
Anglia Ruskin University
College of Medical and Health Science
Centre de Recherche Epidémiologiques et Bio Statistiques de Sorbonne Paris Cité (CRESS)
Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi
African Population and Health Research Center
University of Southern California
Hôpital Fernand-Widal
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Scuola di Medicina e Chirurgia
University of the Free State
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)
Mahidol University
Southern Cross University
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Marburg
Anglia Ruskin University
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Aim: Our aim was to identify multimorbidity clusters and, in particular, to examine their contribution to well-being outcomes among the oldest old in Germany. Methods: Data were taken from the large nationally representative D80+ study including community-dwelling and institutionalized individuals aged 80 years and over residing in Germany (n = 8,773). The mean age was 85.6 years (SD: 4.1). Based on 21 chronic conditions, latent class analysis was carried out to explore multimorbidity (≥2 chronic conditions) clusters. Widely used tools were applied to quantify well-being outcomes. Results: Approximately nine out of ten people aged 80 and over living in Germany were multimorbid. Four multimorbidity clusters were identified: relatively healthy class (30.2 %), musculoskeletal class (44.8 %), mental illness class (8.6 %), and high morbidity class (16.4 %). Being part of the mental disorders cluster was consistently linked to reduced well-being (in terms of low life satisfaction, high loneliness and lower odds of meaning in life), followed by membership in the high morbidity cluster. Conclusions: Four multimorbidity clusters were detected among the oldest old in Germany. Particularly belonging to the mental disorders cluster is consistently associated with low well-being, followed by belonging to the high morbidity cluster. This stresses the need for efforts to target such vulnerable groups, pending future longitudinal research.