Increases in multimorbidity with weight class in the United States

This study employed data from the national Cerner HealthFacts Data Warehouse to identify changes in multimorbidity patterns by weight class using network analysis. Networks were generated for 154  528 middle‐aged patients in the following categories: normal weight, overweight, and classes 1, 2, and 3 obesity. The results show significant differences (P‐value<0.05) in prevalence by weight class for all but three of 82 diseases considered. The percentage of patients with multimorbidity (excluding obesity) increases from in 55.1% in patients with normal weight, to 57.88% with overweight, 70.39% with Class 1 obesity, 73.99% with Class 2 obesity, and 71.68% in Class 3 obesity, increasing most substantially with the progression from overweight to class 1 obesity. Most prevalent disease clusters expand from only hypertension and dorsalgia in normal weight, to add joint disorders in overweight, lipidemias in class 1 obesity, diabetes in class 2 obesity, and sleep disorders and chronic kidney disease in class 3 obesity. Recognition of multimorbidity patterns associated with weight increase is essential for true precision care of obesity ‐associated chronic conditions and can help clinicians identify and address preclinical disease before additional complications arise.
Source: Clinical Obesity - Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Authors: Tags: Original Research Article Source Type: research