Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity and Activity Limitation in Canada: A Cross-Sectional Study of Adults Using the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA) Data

Background: Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM) is the diagnosis of at least two of: diabetes, stroke, or heart disease. CM is a common pattern of multimorbidity, however, the association between CM and activity limitation remains unknown. The objectives of this study were to 1) estimate the prevalence of activity limitations among Canadians with CM; and 2) quantify the association between CM and activity limitations.Methods: Using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), we estimated the prevalence of CM in Canadians aged 45 to 85 (n=51,022). Multinomial logistic regression was used to quantify the association between CM and activity limitation, evaluated using the Older American Resources and Services (OARS) scale.Results: The prevalence of people living with CM and reporting any activity limitation was 27.4%, with the greatest proportion (47.9%) observed in participants living with all three cardiometabolic conditions. The multinomial odds ratio (or relative risk ratio (RRR)) of activity limitation was greatest amongst participants with all three CM conditions (any limitation: RRR = 11.229, 95% CI = 5.803 to 21.726). Of the two disease combinations, those that included stroke had the greatest odds of activity limitation (stroke and diabetes: RRR = 6.546, 95% CI = 4.436 – 9.661; stroke and myocardial infarction: RRR = 7.029, 95% CI = 4.168 – 11.853). Conclusion: Activity limitation is common amongst Canadians living with CM, and those with CM have an increased odds of reporting activity limitation relative to those with no CM conditions. The odds increase in dose-response relationship as one accumulates more CM conditions.