The Impact of Multimorbidity on Capacity and Performance Levels: Insights from a Population-Based Study

Multimorbidity has emerged as a pressing public health concern on a global scale, primarily driven by population aging and the epidemiological transition, which has resulted in an increased prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the functioning profile of individuals with multimorbidity in Chile, focusing on capacity and performance, and to explore the association between multimorbidity and compromised functioning. Methods: Data from the II ENDISC, a cross-sectional population study conducted in Chile in 2015, were analyzed. The sample comprised 12,265 randomly selected individuals aged 17 and above, who were interviewed using the Model Disability Survey. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were employed to assess the impact of multimorbidity on capacity and performance. Results: The results revealed that individuals with multimorbidity presented worse capacity scores (38.31 vs. 19.72) and performance scores (44.51 vs. 27.28) compared to those without multimorbidity. Furthermore, adjusted risk through GLM shows that individuals with multimorbidity had a higher risk of experiencing worse capacity (1.39) and performance (1.29) scores. Gender, self-rated health, age, employment status, and education level were identified as factors associated with varying degrees of impact on functioning. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of addressing multimorbidity and its associated factors in healthcare planning and intervention strategies, particularly for socioeconomically vulnerable populations, to enhance well-being and functioning among individuals with multimorbidity.