Multimorbidity and Functional Disability among Older Adults: The Role of Inflammation and Glycemic Status – An Observational Longitudinal Study

Introduction: Specific multimorbidity combinations, in particular those including arthritis, stroke, and cognitive impairment, have been associated with high burden of activities of daily living (ADL)-instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disability in older adults. The biologic underpinnings of these associations are still unclear. Methods: Observational longitudinal study using data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 8,618, mean age = 74 years, 58% female, 25% non-white) and negative binomial regression models stratified by sex to evaluate the role of inflammatory and glycemic biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and HbA1c) in the association between specific multimorbidity combinations (grouped around one of eight index diseases: arthritis, cancer, cognitive impairment, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, lung disease, and stroke; assessed between 2006 and 2014) and prospective ADL-IADL disability (2 years later, 2008–2016). Results were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, number of coexisting diseases, and baseline ADL-IADL score. Results: Multimorbidity combinations indexed by arthritis (IRR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.01–1.20), diabetes (IRR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.09–1.30), and cognitive impairment (IRR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.01–1.23) among men and diabetes-indexed multimorbidity combinations (IRR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01–1.14) among women were associated with higher ADL-IADL scores at increasing levels of HbA1c. Across higher levels of hs-CRP, multimorbidity combinations indexed by arthritis (IRR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02–1.11), hypertension (IRR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02–1.11), heart disease (IRR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01–1.12), and lung disease (IRR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.07–1.23) were associated with higher ADL-IADL scores among women, while there were no significant associations among men. Conclusion: The findings suggest potential for anti-inflammatory management among older women and optimal glycemic control among older men with these particular multimorbidity combinations as focus for therapeutic/preventive options for maintaining functional health.