Oral health in multimorbidity: A dominant yet neglected factor in rural Indian adults

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and patterns of oral-systemic multimorbidity among rural adults in Uttarakhand, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 adults aged 30–50 years. Structured interviews and clinical examinations were performed to document oral and systemic morbidities. Comorbidity patterns were statistically analyzed. Results: Nearly all participants presented with at least one morbidity, and over half exhibited combined oral and systemic diseases. Hypertension with oral conditions was the most common comorbidity, followed by diabetes-hypertension-oral disease triads. Conclusions: Oral health conditions contribute substantially to multimorbidity burden in non-elderly rural adults. Integrated healthcare strategies targeting oral-systemic risk factors are urgently required.