Table 5

Multivariate adjusted odds ratios (OR, 95% CI) of multimorbidity and metabolic diseases by educational level and sex according to age groups among participants aged 50 to 75 years in the EPIC-Heidelberg cohort


Men
Women
Educational Level
High
Middle

Low

High
Middle

Low


OR
OR
95%-CI
OR
95%-CI
OR
OR
95%-CI
OR
95%-CI

Multimorbidity: yes1










Age <= 60 years at recruitment #
1
1.24
1.03–1.50
1.36
1.17–1.59
1
1.05
0.87–1.26
1.20
1.00–1.43
Age > 60 years at recruitment #
1
0.95
0.65–1.39
0.90
0.68–1.19
1
1.08
0.70–1.67
0.93
0.64–1.35
Metabolic diseases: yes2










Age <= 60 years at recruitment #
1
1.38
1.12–1.71
1.18
1.00–1.38
1
1.24
1.03–1.49
1.32
1.11–1.58
Age > 60 years at recruitment#
1
1.16
0.74–1.83
0.97
0.71–1.32
1
1.16
0.74–1.82
1.24
0.84–1.83

§ adjusted for BMI (continuous; kg/m2), fruit intake (continuous; g/day), vegetable intake (continuous, g/day), alcohol consumption (continuous; g/day), age (continuous; years, total physical activity (inactive, moderately inactive, moderately active, active)

adjusted for smoking status, fruit intake (continuous; g/day), vegetable intake (continuous; g/day), alcohol consumption (continuous; g/day), age (continuous years), combined total physical activity index (inactive, moderately inactive, moderately active, active)

# adjusted for smoking status, BMI (continuous; kg/m2), fruit intake (continuous; g/day), vegetable intake (continuous; g/day), alcohol consumption (continuous; g/day), age (continuous years), combined total physical activity index (inactive, moderately inactive, moderately active, active)

1Presence of two or more of the prevalent chronic conditions mentioned in table 1

2Presence of hyperuricemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension or dyslipidemia

Nagel et al. BMC Public Health 2008 8:384   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-8-384