Socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of complex multimorbidity in a Norwegian population: findings from the cross-sectional HUNT Study.

OBJECTIVES: Multimorbidity, the co-occurrence of multiple long-term conditions, is common and increasing. Definitions and assessment methods vary, yielding differences in estimates of prevalence and multimorbidity severity. Sociodemographic characteristics are associated with complicating factors of multimorbidity. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of complex multimorbidity by sex and occupational groups throughout adulthood.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
SETTING: The third total county survey of The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), 2006-2008, Norway. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 25-100 years with classifiable occupational data and complete questionnaires and measurements. OUTCOME MEASURE: Complex multimorbidity defined as 'the co-occurrence of three or more chronic conditions affecting three or more different body (organ) systems within one person without defining an index chronic condition'. ANALYSIS: Logistic regression models with age and occupational group were specified for each sex separately.
RESULTS: 38 027 of 41 193 adults (55% women) were included in our analyses. 54% of the participants were identified as having complex multimorbidity. Prevalence differences in percentage points (pp) of those in the low occupational group (vs the high occupational group (reference)) were 19 (95% CI, 16 to 21) pp in women and 10 (8 to 13) pp in men at 30 years; 12 (10 to 14) pp in women and 13 (11 to 15) pp in men at 55 years; and 2 (-1 to 4) pp in women and 7 (4 to 10) pp in men at 75 years.
CONCLUSION: Complex multimorbidity is common from early adulthood, and social inequalities persist until 75 years in women and 90 years in men in the general population. These findings have policy implications for public health as well as healthcare, organisation, treatment, education and research, as complex multimorbidity breaks with the specialised, fragmented paradigm dominating medicine today. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

As a large, entire-county, general population health survey with a vast number of variables, the HUNT Study is ideal to estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity by self-reports and clinical measurements.

Complex multimorbidity operationalised as three or more organ systems affected is relevant in both clinic and research, with high specificity into old age, implicating the need for coordinated multidisciplinary care and increasing comparability between studies.

Socioeconomic position operationalised as occupations allocated in the European Socio-economic Classification scheme makes international comparison of gradients possible.

Non-participants have lower socioeconomic position and higher mortality, thus the social gradients in prevalence of complex multimorbidity detected are likely conservative.

The original data lacked information of chronicity of a majority of the conditions, which may lead to overestimation of complex multimorbidity.

Introduction

Multimorbidity, the co-occurrence of multiple long-term conditions in which none holds priority,1 is common and increasing.2 3 It challenges the individual’s ability to self-manage4 5 as well as clinical decision-making5–7 due to complexity that conflicts with subspecialised medicine and clinical guidelines. Multimorbidity is associated with high healthcare utilisation in both primary and specialist care,8 including emergency department visits.9

Multimorbidity is heterogeneous, and a mere count of conditions may not imply complexity,1 5 requiring coordinated multidisciplinary care. In attempts to detect individuals with high needs, guidelines by and large are focused on combinations of conditions, such as concurrent mental and somatic conditions5 10 11 or three or more conditions in separate organ systems,5 12 and consequences thereof, such as polypharmacy5 10 11 and requirements for assistance in daily living.5 10 11 Individual factors that increase patient complexity include sociodemographic characteristics,13 social resources,13 and health and social experiences.13 Recent recommendations on multimorbidity care have taken into account social networks,11 socioeconomic positions11 and patient experiences, such as treatment burden.10 11

Research results from cross-sectional studies on multimorbidity prevalence have been difficult to compare because of differences in definitions, methods, and the number and types of conditions included.14 15 Still, associations with lower socioeconomic position,3 14 16 female sex3 14 16 and increasing age3 14 16 persist across studies. Further, defining multimorbidity as simultaneously having three or more conditions increases the specificity of the multimorbidity measure into older age groups,12 15 and comparability between studies increases when multimorbidity is operationalised as multiple organ systems affected.12

Inequalities in health according to socioeconomic position are persistent,17 even in comparatively egalitarian Nordic societies.18 The association of socioeconomic differences with the occurrence of multimorbidity has been explored using multiple measures, such as education,14 19 income,19 occupation3 and deprivation indexes.14 16 In fact, any measure of socioeconomic position will detect health differences in descriptive studies, if differences exist.20 Using an occupational classification may reflect specific work-related exposures in addition to general associations to income, material resources and social status.20

In sum, multimorbidity represents a challenge both for the individual and clinician, as well as for the coordination of healthcare. Previous multimorbidity prevalence research suggests that demographic and socioeconomic gradients operate. In Norway, multimorbidity prevalence and patterns have been partly explored.21 Studies on complex multimorbidity is lacking, and no studies have investigated sociodemographic differences. Such data can strengthen healthcare planning and clinical management of multimorbidity, as well as guide public health interventions.

Our aim is to add to former knowledge by assessing the prevalence of complex multimorbidity, defined as three or more conditions in separate organ systems, by age, sex and occupational groups, in a general population health survey.

Methods

Reporting statement

The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) cross-sectional reporting guidelines22 were used for reporting this observational study.

Study population

The HUNT Study is a population-based health study for all adults 20 years and older living in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway. Four surveys have been completed since the 1980s, and cohort profiles and data collection procedures have been described in detail elsewhere.23 24 This study is a secondary analysis of data from the HUNT3 Survey (2006–2008), where 93 860 citizens were invited to participate. In short, the survey consisted of a main questionnaire received with the invitation by email and handed in when attending a screening station, where participants were interviewed and clinical measurements and biological samples were taken. A second sex-specific and age-specific questionnaire was handed out at the screening station and returned by email.

A total of 50 807 individuals (54% of 93 860 invited) completed the main questionnaire, required to be considered an attendant of the HUNT3 Survey.23 Sampling is described in figure 1. In this study, 41 193 of 50 807 participants (81%) had data on all major parts of the survey (both questionnaires, interview, measurements and samples) and were designated as respondents. Thus, 9610 were excluded due to incomplete participation, while 4 people missed complete participation data. Under the assumption that young adults may not have obtained their highest level of occupational class at the time of participation, 1569 participants younger than 25 years were excluded, as well as 1 person with missing age data. Occupation data were missing for 1571 respondents, and 25 people were excluded due to unspecified occupation data. Finally, 38 027 of 41 193 (92%) respondents were eligible for data analysis, 11 204 were non-eligible and 1576 had missing data.

Figure 1

Flowchart for sample selection; inclusion and exclusion criteria and missing data.

Participation in the HUNT3 Survey varies with socioeconomic position, age and sex.25 The distribution of occupational groups among the sample was 24% (high), 27% (middle) and 49% (low) and in non-eligible: 17% (high), 20% (middle), 52% (low) and 11% (missing). The average (SD) age in the sample was 55 (14) years, in the non-eligible group 44 (18) years and among missing 66 (18) years. Women constituted 55% (n=20 813 of 38 027) of the sample, 51% (n=5662 of 11 203) of the non-eligible and 81% of the missing (n=1281 of 1576).

Outcome variable

Complex multimorbidity was defined as ‘the co-occurrence of three or more chronic conditions affecting three or more different body (organ) systems within one person without defining an index chronic condition’, as suggested by previous research.5 12

All conditions possible to generate from the HUNT3 Survey data were included to meet recommendations on deriving the best estimate of prevalence of multimorbidity.12 In total, 51 chronic conditions, defined singly as far as original data permitted, were constructed, and details are described in online supplementary appendix A. This list of 51 conditions is more comprehensive and homogeneous than previous operationalisations of multimorbidity in the HUNT3 Survey.21

Further, the conditions were grouped according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), in 13 organ-specific chapters and one chapter on symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings (box 1), using general terms of the conditions in the Norwegian Directorate of eHealth online search engine26 on 1 February 2017.

Conditions

II Neoplasms

Cancer

III Blood/blood-forming organs/immune mechanism

Sarcoidosis

IV Endocrine/nutritional/metabolic

Obesity

Hypercholesterolemia

Diabetes

Hypothyroidism

Hyperthyroidism

V Mental/behavioural

Alcohol problem

Depression

Anxiety

Insomnia

Nervous system

Epilepsy

Migraine

Chronic headache, other

VII Eye/adnexa

Cataract

Macula degeneration

Glaucoma

VIII Ear/mastoid

Hearing impairment

IX Circulatory system

Hypertension

Angina pectoris

Myocardial infarction

Heart failure

Other heart disease*

Stroke or brain haemorrhage*

X Respiratory system

Chronic bronchitis, emphysema or COPD*

Asthma

XI Digestive system

Dental health status

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Irritable bowel syndrome

XII Skin/subcutaneous tissue

Hand eczema

Psoriasis

XIII Musculoskeletal/connective tissue

Rheumatoid arthritis

Osteoarthritis

Ankylosing spondylitis

Fibromyalgia

Osteoporosis

Local musculoskeletal pain/stiffness in:

Neck or upper back or lower back or

shoulder or elbow or hand or

hip or kne or foot/ankle

XIV Genitourinary system

Kidney disease

Urine incontinence

Prostate symptoms

Menopausal hot flashes

XVIII Symptoms/signs/abnormal clinical/laboratory findings

Nocturia

Chronic widespread pain.

*Exception to single entity

COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ICD-10, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision.

Chapters were counted once if affected by at least one chronic condition, and a summary score of the chapter variables was generated. In this study, complex multimorbidity was defined as having conditions in at least 3 of 14 chapters.

Sociodemographic characteristics

Occupation data from the HUNT3 Survey were free-text answers to the interview question, ‘What is/was the title of your main occupation?’ Answers were manually categorised corresponding to Standard Classifications of Occupations by Statistics Norway,27 which is based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations-88 (ISCO-88).28 Socioeconomic position was allocated according to the simplified, 3-class version European Socio-economic Classification (ESeC) scheme.29 The simplified scheme is based solely on occupational data, classified according to ISCO-88.28 Details are provided in online supplementary appendix B. The intention of the full ESeC scheme is to measure qualitative distinctions between employment relationships and does not reflect a clear hierarchy.29 However, income is considered more stable in the salariat class.29 In the 3-class version, the salariat class consists of large employers, higher-grade and lower-grade professionals, administrative and managerial occupations, and higher-grade technician and supervisory occupations. The intermediate class contains small employers, self-employed individuals, and lower-grade supervisory and technician occupations. The working class represents lower-grade service positions, sales and clerical occupations, and lower-grade technical and routine occupations. For practical reasons in this study, the terms high, middle and low occupational group replaced the terms salariat, intermediate and working class, respectively.

In addition, continuous age and categorical sex data, provided by the HUNT Databank, were used in the analyses.

Statistical analysis

Cross-tables were used to present sociodemographic characteristics of the sample by occupational group (table 1) and by complex multimorbidity, stratified by sex (table 2).

Table 1

Sex and age distribution by occupational group

	Occupational group
	High	Middle	Low	Total
	Freq. (%)	Freq. (%)	Freq. (%)	Freq. (%)
Total	8.970 (100)	10.243 (100)	18.814 (100)	38.027 (100)
Sex
Women	4.505 (50)	5.386 (53)	10.922 (58)	20.813 (55)
Men	4.465 (50)	4.857 (47)	7.892 (42)	17.214 (45)
Age, years
25–44	2.837 (32)	2.600 (25)	4.487 (24)	9.924 (26)
45–64	4.468 (50)	4.787 (47)	8.951 (48)	18.206 (48)
65–74	1.118 (12)	1.846 (18)	3.297 (18)	6.261 (16)
75–100	547 (6)	1.010 (10)	2.079 (11)	3.636 (10)

Freq., Frequency.

Table 2

Sociodemographic distribution of complex multimorbidity

	Complex multimorbidity
	Women			Men
	No, n (%)	Yes, n (%)	Total, n (%)	No, n (%)	Yes, n (%)	Total, n (%)
Total	8.505 (41)	12.308 (59)	20.813 (100)	9.137 (53)	8.077 (47)	17.214 (100)
Occupational group
High	2.460 (55)	2.045 (45)	4.505 (100)	2.712 (61)	1.753 (39)	4.465 (100)
Middle	2.384 (44)	3.002 (56)	5.386 (100)	2.525 (52)	2.332 (48)	4.857 (100)
Low	3.661 (34)	7.261 (66)	10.922 (100)	3.900 (49)	3.992 (51)	7.892 (100)
Age, years
25–44	3.859 (65)	2.122 (35)	5.981 (100)	2.958 (75)	985 (25)	3.943 (100)
45–64	3.668 (37)	6.172 (63)	9.840 (100)	4.621 (55)	3.745 (45)	8.366 (100)
65–74	721 (23)	2.447 (77)	3.168 (100)	1.155 (37)	1.938 (63)	3.093 (100)
75–100	257 (14)	1.567 (86)	1.824 (100)	403 (22)	1.409 (78)	1.812 (100)
Mean (SD)	48 (13)	59.(14)	54 (14)	52 (13)	62 (13)	56 (14)

Associations between occupational group and complex multimorbidity were analysed using logistic regression. The final models were stratified by sex, included occupational group, continuous age and an interaction term between occupational group and age. Choice of models was guided by likelihood ratio tests.

Since complex multimorbidity was highly prevalent, ORs would deviate from relative risks30 and be challenging to interpret. Thus, we used the estimates from the logistic regression models to derive prevalence differences, the difference in mean predicted probability,31 and prevalence ratios, the ratio between the mean predicted probabilities,31 between occupational groups, while holding other covariates constant. The high occupational group was chosen as the reference group. Prevalence differences and prevalence ratios were calculated in 5-year intervals from 25 to 100 years, with 95% CIs (online supplementary appendix C). Results for the ages 30, 55, 75 and 90 years are presented in table 3 to represent adult, middle aged, aged and oldest old in the sample.

Table 3

Prevalence ratios (PRs) and prevalence differences (PDs) with 95% CIs in complex multimorbidity between occupational groups, stratified by sex

Age, years	Occupational group	Women		Men
		PR (95% CI)	PD (95% CI)	PR (95% CI)	PD (95% CI)
30	High	1.00 (ref.)	0.00 (ref.)	1.00 (ref.)	0.00 (ref.)
	Middle	1.47 (1.28 to 1.68)	0.08 (0.05 to 0.11)	1.28 (1.05 to 1.55)	0.03 (0.01 to 0.06)
	Low	2.06 (1.84 to 2.32)	0.19 (0.16 to 0.21)	1.92 (1.63 to 2.26)	0.10 (0.08 to 0.13)
55	High	1.00 (ref.)	0.00 (ref.)	1.00 (ref.)	0.00 (ref.)
	Middle	1.08 (1.03 to 1.12)	0.04 (0.02 to 0.06)	1.16 (1.10 to 1.23)	0.06 (0.04 to 0.08)
	Low	1.22 (1.18 to 1.26)	0.12 (0.10 to 0.14)	1.35 (1.28 to 1.41)	0.13 (0.11 to 0.15)
75	High	1.00 (ref.)	0.00 (ref.)	1.00 (ref.)	0.00 (ref.)
	Middle	0.98 (0.95 to 1.02)	−0.01 (−0.04 to 0.02)	1.07 (1.02 to 1.12)	0.05 (0.02 to 0.08)
	Low	1.02 (0.99 to 1.05)	0.02 (−0.01 to 0.04)	1.10 (1.06 to 1.15)	0.07 (0.04 to 0.10)
90	High	1.00 (ref.)	0.00 (ref.)	1.00 (ref.)	0.00 (ref.)
	Middle	0.98 (0.96 to 1.00)	−0.02 (−0.04 to 0.00)	1.03 (0.99 to 1.07)	0.03 (−0.01 to 0.06)
	Low	0.99 (0.97 to 1.01)	−0.01 (−0.03 to 0.01)	1.03 (0.99 to 1.07)	0.02 (−0.01 to 0.05)

To visualise the differential association between age and complex multimorbidity in each occupational group, we specified separate models using restricted cubic splines and graphed the findings from each model into a common plot for each sex.

Sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate if the number and types of conditions showed a similar pattern with respect to the overall prevalence as well as differences between occupational groups (online supplementary appendix D). The alternative complex multimorbidity measure was derived from data in the main questionnaire only (22 conditions, grouped in 12 ICD-10 chapters).

Complete case analysis was performed, and StataIC 15.1 was used to analyse the data (StataCorp. 2017. Stata Statistical Software: Release 15. College Station, TX: StataCorp LLC).

Patient and public involvement

There was a broad participant, patient and stakeholder involvement during the planning of the HUNT3 Survey. Data collection was performed in 2006–2008. Complex multimorbidity is a universal subject, not represented by any particular patient group, and thus no patient or public representative was involved in the design of this secondary analysis study.

Results

Thirty-eight thousand twenty-seven individuals, aged 25–100 years, 55% women (n=20 813), who had completed all major parts of the HUNT3 Survey and had a classifiable occupation comprised the eligible sample, as figure 1 depicts. table 1 presents further sociodemographic characteristics.

Nearly half the sample (49%; n=18 814 of 38 027; of which 58% were women, n=10 922) was allocated in the low occupational group. In absolute numbers, the low occupational group was the largest socioeconomic category in both sexes and all age groups. The proportion of individuals aged 25–44 years decreased from 32% in the high occupational group (n=2837) to 24% in the low occupational group (n=4487), while the proportion of individuals aged 75 to 100 years increased from 6% (n=547) to 11% (n=2079). Participants aged 45 to 64 years were the largest age group in total and in all occupational groups (high, n=4468; middle, n=4787; low, n=8951).

Overall, a majority (54%; n=20 385 of 38 027) of the sample met the criteria for having complex multimorbidity, including 59% of women (n=12 308) and 47% of men (n=8077; table 2). The percentages increased from high to low occupational group in women from 45% (n=2045) to 66% (n=7261) and in men from 39% (n=1753) to 51% (n=3992). The proportions further increased by age, from 35% (n=2122) of women aged 25 to 44 years to 86% (n=1567) of women aged 75 to 100 years. In men, the increase was from 25% (n=985) to 78% (n=1409) in the same age groups. In absolute numbers, most people classified as having complex multimorbidity were aged 45 to 64 years (women, n=6172; men, n=3745).

Table 3 shows prevalence ratios and prevalence differences between the occupational groups after adjusting for age and occupation–age interaction and thus presented at ages 30, 55, 75 and 90 years. Prevalence differences for complex multimorbidity between high and low occupational groups varied; at 30 years, 19 (16 to 21) percentage points (pp) in women and 10 (8 to 13) pp in men; at 55 years, 12 (10 to 14) pp in women and 13 (11 to 15) pp in men; at 75 years, 2 (−1 to 4) pp in women and 7 (4 to 10) pp in men; and at 90 years, −1 (−3 to 1) pp in women and 2 (−1 to 5) in men. Compared with the high occupational group, the prevalence ratios for the low occupational group for complex multimorbidity were at 30 years, 2.06 (1.84 to 2.32) in women and 1.92 (1.63 to 2.26) in men; at 55 years, 1.22 (1.18 to 1.26) in women and 1.35 (1.28 to 1.41) in men; at 75 years, 1.02 (0.99 to 1.05) in women and 1.10 (1.06 to 1.15) in men; and at 90 years, 0.99 (0.97 to 1.01) in women and 1.03 (0.99 to 1.07) in men.

In the sensitivity analyses where the complex multimorbidity measure was derived from fewer conditions (22 vs 51) and ICD-10 chapters (12 vs 14), the total prevalence was 15% (n=5836 of 38 027, online supplementary appendix D). Proportions were greater in women, higher age and the low occupational group. Compared with the results from the main analysis, prevalence differences between high and low occupational groups were smaller in women at all ages and in men at age 30 years and 55 years, while prevalence ratios were greater in men at all ages and in women aged 30 and 55 years.

Figure 2 depicts estimated prevalence of complex multimorbidity by occupational group and sex in individuals aged 25 to 100 years. In all occupational groups in both sexes, the predicted prevalence increased with age throughout the age span. Further, estimated prevalence differed between the occupational groups in women until age 75 years and in men until age 90 years. Women had a consistently higher prevalence for complex multimorbidity than men.

Figure 2

Estimated prevalence of complex multimorbidity with 95% CIs by age and occupational group for women and men.

Discussion

Main results

More than half (54%) of this total county adult population sample were identified with complex multimorbidity, measured as occurrence of chronic conditions in minimum three separate organ systems. Prevalence of complex multimorbidity was common from early adulthood, increased with age and was higher in women and in the low occupational group. Occupational group prevalence differences and ratios in complex multimorbidity were diminishing in women, while still present in men, at age 75 years.

Comparison with existing literature

Few, if any, studies (to our knowledge) have investigated the prevalence and determinants of complex multimorbidity in a general population. The findings are in keeping with known determinants of lower social position, female sex and higher age for multimorbidity in both general population19 and primary care studies.3 14 16 An Australian study using a comparable operationalisation of complex multimorbidity identified nearly 25% of patients in general practice with complex multimorbidity and estimated a national prevalence of 17%.32 However, higher prevalence findings from our predominantly self-reported data are compatible with studies comparing prevalence estimates from self-reports and health record data.33 34 In absolute numbers, the incidence of individuals identified with the stricter measure of complex multimorbidity is still highest among the group younger than 64 years, as has been shown for multimorbidity.16 19 35 The sensitivity analysis confirms how number and types of conditions influence prevalence12 15 and effect estimates of age, sex and socioeconomic position.36

Mechanisms to explain findings

The association between lower socioeconomic position and poor health is well established. In general, unequal distribution of income, power and wealth is understood to be socially determined fundamental causes that impact conditions of everyday life and result in social health inequalities.17 In Nordic countries assumed to be egalitarian and offering universal healthcare, social health inequalities still exist.18 Theories put forward are the survival of individuals with greater frailty, who are more likely to obtain a lower social position.37 The gap in health is also explained by overall morbidity and mortality decreasing faster among the higher than the lower socioeconomic groups.37

In this study, occupational group serves as the proxy variable for socioeconomic position. Occupation may affect health outcomes through universal and specific mechanisms. In general, the higher occupational groups will have more secure and higher income,29 38 as well as advantageous social networks.38 In particular, jobs vary in psychosocial factors, such as stress, control and autonomy and biological factors, such as physical demands or harmful and hazardous work environments.38 Overall, the higher occupational groups have greater autonomy and control,29 while lower occupational groups are more exposed to malign work factors.17 Generations may have different associations between a profession and health outcomes,38 as occupations, tasks and exposures shift over time.

The bidirectional relationship between health and occupation20 may partly explain the larger prevalence differences and ratios between low and high occupational groups in the younger age categories. Higher rates of multimorbidity in young individuals in lower socioeconomic positions may also be explained by detection bias35 in which the initiation of therapy and healthcare follow-up increase the likelihood of diagnosing more conditions. Diminishing occupational ratios and differences among the oldest may be explained by the higher overall prevalence of complex multimorbidity39 and also survival bias, whereby the individuals with greatest fragility have already died. While probability of complex multimorbidity increases with age, the age distribution results in a higher number of cases occurring in those younger than 64 years.

Strengths and limitations

Strength of this study is the estimation of prevalence of complex multimorbidity from a general population survey, the most common study design in multimorbidity studies.40 A vast number of self-reported conditions are included, almost exclusively diagnoses and symptoms.40 Self-report is considered a valid approach when studying large samples.15 Furthermore, using all available data will produce the most proper prevalence estimates,12 which in this study is demonstrated by the sensitivity analysis and which seems necessary to detect occupational differences in younger age groups. The sensitivity analyses confirm that the spectrum of conditions included may affect associations with socioeconomic position, age and sex.36

Our operationalisation of complex multimorbidity makes the prevalence estimates comparable with other studies categorising conditions by any organ-based system.12 The occurrence of conditions in separate organ, and number of organ systems, could have been explored as a continuous measure with assumed increasing severity; however, this was beyond the scope of this study.

The allocation of occupations in the ESeC also makes international comparison of social gradients possible.29 We presented absolute and relative differences in compliance with recommendations on measurements of socioeconomic inequalities in health.41 Results are further stratified by age and sex, which are stated as minimum requirements for proper reporting of multimorbidity.14

A number of limitations should be noted. Our study is based on data collected for a general health survey, and this limits data on conditions included in the complex multimorbidity measure. In particular, we did not have explicit information on chronicity for a majority of the conditions. Thus, the prevalence of complex multimorbidity may be overestimated.

Socioeconomic position was explored using only occupation, and while social health inequalities will be detected,20 socioeconomic measures are not interchangeable.20 42 Different measures of socioeconomic position will act through varying mechanisms and may associate distinctively with health outcomes.20 42 Participants in the HUNT3 Survey reported their main occupation, while current or longest lasting occupation is more often studied.38 Younger subjects may be misclassified in lower socioeconomic position, which may underestimate the occupational differences in health in this age group, whereas reverse causation, whereby prior health status determines job opportunities, is unavoidable and will increase detected differences. This study excludes those never having worked, which will underestimate social gradients in complex comorbidity.43 Further, individuals with data missing due to unclassifiable occupation, a circumstance more common in elderly women than other participants, were excluded. Occupational data may misrepresent present social context38 and thereby underestimate social inequalities. It would have been favourable if the study had included education, income or household indicators for socioeconomic position.

Participation in the HUNT3 Survey varied by age, sex, socioeconomic position and pattern of morbidity.25 This may weaken the effect estimates of the determinants to complex multimorbidity. A healthy elders bias is likely, since participation required attendance at a screening station.23 Overall, prevalence of individual conditions has shown only slight differences between participants and non-participants.25 The HUNT Study is considered fairly representative for Norway,24 and the health development in the material follows western high-income country trends closely.44–46

Implications for clinical practice and policy makers

Our study confirms that complex multimorbidity, a suggested measure to identify multimorbid individuals with high need for coordinated multidisciplinary care,12 is highly prevalent in the general population, where social differences are evident from young to old adulthood. This is in line with international studies, and at policy level, an emphasis on public health intervention to prevent complex multimorbidity and social differences seems necessary. As proposed elsewhere, this will likely require a proportionate universalism life-cycle approach.47 To improve and secure healthcare for this large patient group, clinical guidelines and the organisation of healthcare are suggested to adapt to a person-centred, generalist approach.5 10 48

Future research

Complex multimorbidity is common in this general population sample, with a clear social gradient throughout adulthood. Careful interpretation is necessary, since there are possible biases in measures of multimorbidity and occupation. However, the HUNT3 Survey data cover a broad spectrum of conditions and give a unique opportunity to create several measures of multimorbidity in the same sample, with directly comparable prevalence estimates and gradients. On this background, we recommend exploring alternative measures suggested to detect individuals with high needs and multimorbidity and investigate differences in patterns and consequences of such measures by social health determinants. Since multimorbidity is the norm and represents a large challenge to healthcare across levels, research on overall healthcare utilisation and organisation should be a priority, as well as studying competing measures as prognostic factors for mortality. Studies on social differences in the use of healthcare may identify vulnerable subgroups, where any specific organisation of treatment later on could be evaluated.

Conclusion

Complex multimorbidity, defined as occurrence of chronic conditions in three separate organ systems, is common, and occupational differences exist throughout adulthood in both sexes. The magnitude of complex multimorbidity in all age groups implies the need for public health management to universally improve, targeted proportionate to need and disadvantage in subpopulations, social health determinants throughout the lifespan. Complex multimorbidity, indicating the accumulation of conditions of different aetiology requiring coordinated multidisciplinary care, should inspire health caregivers, healthcare organisations, educational institutions and researchers to take on a generalist and person-centred focus. Studying alternative multimorbidity measures, including healthcare utilisation and mortality according to social background, as well as multimorbidity management, should be prioritised in future research.