Identification of population multimorbidity patterns in 3.9 million patients from Bogota in 2018

Background

Multimorbidity has emerged as a challenge for health systems due to its association with adverse clinical outcomes. Given the limited information available on multimorbidity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, this study characterizes multimorbidity patterns in the population of Bogotá, Colombia in 2018.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, we analyzed 16 million medical consultation records from Bogotá reported in the National Service Delivery Records in 2018. Using network analysis, we quantified the prevalence of multimorbidity in the population and identified the most common associations between diagnoses, with data stratified by age, sex, and socioeconomic status.

Results

The study found that the prevalence of multimorbidity in the population was 44.2 %, increased with age, and was higher in women and in people affiliated to the contributory health scheme. Allergies and vasomotor rhinitis with asthma were common in young people. In women aged 19–39 years, obesity with hypothyroidism was common, while men in the same age group had obesity with dyslipidemia. In people aged 60 years and older, essential hypertension with dyslipidemia was the most common. In addition, some associations between diagnoses showed a higher association in people affiliated to the subsidized health scheme, with notable associations with trauma, especially in men.

Conclusion

Overall, the results provide valuable insights into multimorbidity in the population and highlight inequalities based on sociodemographic factors. Future research should investigate whether the lower prevalence of multimorbidity in vulnerable groups is related to biases in data collection or to underlying inequalities in healthcare access.