Table 3.
Associations between multimorbidity factor scores and the number of concurrent medications in adult outpatients (N = 1,480)*.
| Multimorbidity factor score | Adjusted RR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription medications | Over-the-counter medications | |
| Cardiovascular/renal/metabolic† | ||
| Q1 (lowest) | Reference | |
| Q2 | 1.17 (1.07 to 1.29) | 1.54 (1.31 to 1.81) |
| Q3 | 1.24 (1.19 to 1.37) | 1.68 (1.41 to 2.01) |
| Q4 (highest) | 1.79 (1.62 to 1.98) | 1.78 (1.47 to 2.15) |
| Neuropsychiatric‡ | ||
| Q1 (lowest) | Reference | |
| Q2 | 0.81 (0.75 to 0.87) | 1.27 (1.08 to 1.48) |
| Q3 | 0.73 (0.66 to 0.80) | 0.95 (0.79 to 1.14) |
| Q4 (highest) | 1.01 (0.93 to 1.11) | 1.11 (0.93 to 1.33) |
| Skeletal/articular/digestive§ | ||
| Q1 (lowest) | Reference | |
| Q2 | 1.10 (1.00 to 1.21) | 1.33 (1.14 to 1.55) |
| Q3 | 1.41 (1.28 to 1.54) | 1.30 (1.10 to 1.53) |
| Q4 (highest) | 1.68 (1.53 to 1.85) | 1.34 (1.12 to 1.59) |
| Respiratory/dermal | ||
| Q1 (lowest) | Reference | |
| Q2 | 1.42 (1.29 to 1.55) | 1.27 (1.09 to 1.48) |
| Q3 | 1.49 (1.36 to 1.63) | 1.19 (1.02 to 1.40) |
| Q4 (highest) | 1.87 (1.71 to 2.05) | 1.30 (1.10 to 1.52) |
| Malignant/digestive/urologic** | ||
| Q1 (lowest) | Reference | |
| Q2 | 1.11 (1.01 to 1.22) | 1.40 (1.19 to 1.65) |
| Q3 | 1.46 (1.33 to 1.60) | 1.62 (1.37 to 1.91) |
| Q4 (highest) | 1.85 (1.68 to 2.03) | 1.71 (1.44 to 2.04) |
RR, risk ratio; CI, confidence interval.
*Adjusted for age, sex, education level, annual household income; Each factor score was included individually in the model.
†Cardiovascular/renal/metabolic factor score quartiles: Q1, −0.30 to −0.15; Q2, −0.09 to 0.62; Q3, 0.62 to 1.21; Q4, 1.21 to 3.09.
‡Neuropsychiatric factor score quartiles: Q1, −1.81 to −0.40; Q2, −0.40 to −0.14; Q3, −0.13 to 0.05; Q4, 0.06 to 1.41.
§Skeletal/articular/digestive factor score quartiles: Q1, −2.82 to −0.98; Q2, −0.97 to −0.37; Q3, −0.37 to −0.11; Q4, −0.11 to 0.22.
Respiratory/dermal factor score quartiles: Q1, −0,22 to −0.12; Q2, −0.07 to 0.29; Q3, 0.31 to 0.73; Q4, 0.74 to 2.81.
**Malignant/digestive/urologic factor score quartiles: Q1, −3.41 to −0.69; Q2, −0.69 to −0.26; Q3, −0.26 to −0.04; Q4, −0.03 to 0.15.