All-CAUSE AND CARDIOVASCULAR MORTALITY IN OLDER ADULTS WITH MULTIMORBIDITY - 1999-2018 NATIONAL SURVEY

Sep 29, 2026

Multimorbidity, defined as two or more chronic conditions, is associated with premature mortality and reduced life expectancy. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in the U.S. and often represents the final pathway among people living with multimorbidity. This study analyzed U.S. adults aged 50+ using 1999-2018 National Health Interview Survey data linked to the National Death Index, assessing all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, with Cox regression adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study design and data sources

Outcomes and statistical approach

Key findings and implications

994 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3356 ALL-CAUSE AND CARDIOVASCULAR MORTALITY IN OLDER ADULTS WITH MULTIMORBIDITY : 1999-2018 NATIONAL SURVEY Chitchanok Benjasirisan1, Arum Lim2, Asma Rayani1, Soo Hyun Kim1, Cheryl Himmelfarb1, Patricia Davidson3, and Binu Koirala1, 1. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 2. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 3. University of New South Wales Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 995 Multimorbidity, the presence of two or more chronic conditions, is associated with premature mortality and decreasing life expectancy. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death in the U.S. and is often final pathway to death among people living with multimorbidity. This study examined the association between multimorbidity and mortality, specifically CVD and all-cause mortality, among U.S. adults aged 50 years of age and older. Data from the 1999-2018 National Health Interview Survey linked with the National Death Index were analyzed. Primary outcomes were all-cause and CVD mortality (due to heart disease and cerebrovascular disease) years, measured from the interview to death or December 31, 2019. Cox regression models assessed mortality risk differences, adjusting for age, sex, marital status, poverty-income ratio, and education. Among 264,400 adults (39.02% with 0-1 chronic conditions; 60.98% with ≥2 conditions), the median follow-up was 7 years (IQR: 4-12). All-cause mortality was 30.65 per 1,000 person-years and CVD mortality was 9.91 per 1,000 person-years. Multimorbidity was linked to higher mortality rate (all-cause: 38.66 vs. 19.75 and CVD: 12.79 vs. 5.70, per 1,000 person-years). Fully adjusted models showed a 43% higher all-cause mortality risk (95% CI: 1.40-1.46) and 59% higher CVD mortality risk (95% CI: 1.52-1.65) for those with multimorbidity. Additionally, each additional comorbidity was associated with an increased risk in all-cause (aHR:1 .06; 95% CI: 1.04–1.09) and CVD mor tality (aHR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.10–1.18). Integrated models of care considering multidisciplinary management is crucial to improve health outcomes and mitigate mortality risk among older adults with multimorbidity.

FAQs

What relationship does the study examine between multimorbidity and mortality?

It assesses how multimorbidity is associated with both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular (heart disease and cerebrovascular disease) mortality among U.S. adults aged 50 and older.

Which datasets were used for the analysis?

The study used data from the 1999-2018 National Health Interview Survey linked with the National Death Index.

How were mortality risks estimated and what variables were adjusted for?

Cox regression models estimated differences in mortality risk and adjusted for age, sex, marital status, poverty-income ratio, and education.

Sep 29, 2026

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