Affiliation:
1. MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre University of Southampton Southampton UK
2. NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust Southampton UK
3. NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre University of Oxford Oxford UK
4. Victoria University of Wellington Wellington New Zealand
Abstract
AimTo examine the relationship between level of morbidity burden and long‐term risk of fractures, falls, and joint replacements in the community‐dwelling participants of the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.MethodsData were analyzed from 2997 individuals (age 59–73 at baseline). Outcomes (fractures, falls, and lower limb joint replacements) were identified using ICD‐10 and OPCS‐4 codes from Hospital Episode Statistics data, available from baseline (1998–2004) until December 2018. Number of systems medicated (marker of morbidity level) in relation to risk of outcomes was examined using sex‐stratified Cox regression.ResultsAmong both men and women, a greater number of systems medicated was related to increased risk of falls (P < 0.001) and lower limb joint replacements (P < 0.003). More systems medicated was only related to increased risk of fracture among women (P‐values for trend of <0.001 among women and 0.186 among men).ConclusionsHigher morbidity was associated with increased risk of adverse health outcomes related to poor musculoskeletal health, but these relationships varied according to the musculoskeletal outcome studied. Intervention strategies to reduce multimorbidity among middle‐aged and older people may hence reduce the burden of musculoskeletal aging. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••–••.