Uncovering bridging diseases in complex multimorbidity pathways: A network science approach

Multimorbidity, the co-occurrence of multiple chronic diseases, represents a significant challenge in healthcare, necessitating advanced analytical methods for a better understanding. Although numerous studies focus on characterizing chronicity profiles across different population groups, there is still a need to identify specific diseases that play a crucial role in shaping multimorbidity patterns. This study applies network science to analyze multimorbidity structures and identify bridging diseases that facilitate the development of complex multimorbidity patterns, using data from a representative sample of 2,200 individuals aged 50 and older residing in southern Spain. Our findings reveal significant gender-based differences in multimorbidity patterns, with women experiencing a higher burden of chronic diseases, resulting in more complex and tightly linked disease networks. The analysis highlights the relevance of specific conditions, such as liver dysfunction in men and depression in women, as key contributors to the formation of complex multimorbidity structures. These findings emphasize the importance of sex/gender-specific healthcare strategies aimed at controlling and preventing diseases that may act as catalysts for multisystem multimorbidity, which have a profound impact on both mortality rates and healthcare utilization.