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By Martin Fortin
Many studies have unequivocally shown a close relationship between lifestyle factors and individual chronic diseases. More recently, the association of lifestyle risk factors with multimorbidity has been explored for physical activity, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and nutrition. Some mixed results have been reported. However, the body mass index has been consistently found to be associated with multimorbidity.
In a recent study published in BMC Public Health [1], we analysed the association of accumulating risk factors in the same individual and multimorbidity. We found that accumulating unhealthy lifestyle factors progressively increased the likelihood of multimorbidity. The cross-sectional design of the study did not allow making a causal inference. However, the increase in the likelihood of multimorbidity with the combined effect of unhealthy lifestyle factors may be used to hypothesise that a person-centered approach promoting healthy lifestyles aiming to maximize the number of healthy lifestyles could be an intervention in the fight against multimorbidity.
1. Fortin M, Haggerty J, Almirall J, et al., Lifestyle factors and multimorbidity: a cross sectional study. BMC Public Health 2014;14:686.