Impact of multimorbidity on household expenditure in China: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

By pinpointing how multimorbidity affects spending patterns, our study offers a novel perspective on the economic challenges families face. Multimorbidity compels households in rapidly developing countries to reallocate resources from basic survival needs toward medical care to manage health shocks. Low-income families, with limited financial flexibility, are compelled to significantly reduce survival expenditures to maintain non-medical developmental expenditures, which may lead to unequal development opportunities across different income groups. Efforts should be continuously made to improve infrastructure, public services, and financial support to better assist individuals and families affected by chronic diseases.