Examining the Relationship between Early Life Risk Factors and Multimorbidity Risk among Elderly in India: Evidence from Lasi-1

Bhavitha Botlagunta , Hyderabad Central University
Sarika Rai, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Abhishek Gupta, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

This study investigates the association between early-life risk factors and the prevalence of multimorbidity among elderly individuals in India, using data from the LASI Wave-1. The study employs a life-course approach to explore how childhood financial conditions, health status, and educational disruptions impact morbidity in later life. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk of multimorbidity among older adults. Descriptive analysis and multinomial logistic regression have been done. The results show that single morbidity and multi morbidity significantly increase with age. The risk of multi morbidity was nearly 3.08 times higher in people aged 75 or above than aged 45 to 54. Uneducated people had 0.89 times less chance of having multi morbidity than their counterparts. Fair health during childhood had significantly 1.151 times more chance to had multi morbidity than people who had good health during childhood. The results reveal that females, urban residents, and older individuals are at a higher risk of experiencing multimorbidity. Moreover, adverse childhood conditions, such as missed schooling and poor health, significantly increase the likelihood of developing multimorbidity. Financial disadvantages during early life also play a critical role. This research underscores the importance of addressing early-life inequalities to mitigate the burden of multimorbidity in aging populations.

Keywords: Population Ageing, Health and Morbidity, Mortality and Longevity

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