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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Aging and Public Health
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1275124

Prevalence of Multiple Long-Term Chronic Conditions and Associated Disability among Community Adults in Riyadh region

Provisionally accepted
Aqeel M. Alenazi Aqeel M. Alenazi 1*Norah Alhwoaimel Norah Alhwoaimel 1Bader Alqahtani Bader Alqahtani 1Mohammed M. Alshehri Mohammed M. Alshehri 2Ahmed Alhowimel Ahmed Alhowimel 1Kamlesh Khunti Kamlesh Khunti 3
  • 1 Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
  • 2 Jazan University, Jizan, Saudi Arabia
  • 3 University of Leicester, Leicester, East Midlands, United Kingdom

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background/Objectives Saudi Arabia is experiencing a rapid rise in chronic diseases and disability. However, there is a dearth of research on these topics in the Arab world. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of multiple long-term chronic conditions (MLTC) and disability and their relationship. Method The survey was conducted in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia in 2023. Convenient sampling was used to select 324 participants aged 50 and older, with data on disability status. The survey collected information on age, sex, body mass index (BMI), multiple long-term chronic conditions - MLTC or multi-morbidity, and activities of daily living. Disability was measured using Arabic versions of basic ADL and Barthel Index. Results: The prevalence MLTC among participants was 49.4%. The prevalence of disability using ADL and Barthel Index were 33.6% and 49.7%, respectively, and these rates increased 42.5% and 58.1%, among participants with MLTC (n=160). MLTC was associated with increased risk of disability using ADL (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.99, p=0.037) and Barthel index (OR 2.27, p=0.007). Conclusion: Approximately half of the participants with disability data had MLTC, and about third to half had disability. MLTC was significantly associated with any kind of disability in community Saudi adults. Hence, strategies to reduce chronic diseases may result in reduction in disability, and vice versa.

    Keywords: disabilities, impairments, Functional limitations, Multiple chronic diseases, multimorbidity

    Received: 09 Aug 2023; Accepted: 09 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Alenazi, Alhwoaimel, Alqahtani, Alshehri, Alhowimel and Khunti. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Aqeel M. Alenazi, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.