Association of inflammatory markers with multimorbidity in middle aged adults

Abstract

Multimorbidity, defined as the co-existence of two or more chronic diseases or conditions in the same individual, is an emerging global health challenge. Chronic inflammation is considered one of the key biological mechanisms by which multimorbidity develops. Previous studies have mainly focused on either determining individual association of inflammatory markers with chronic diseases or inflammatory markers with multimorbidity. chronic diseases with inflammatory markers or multimorbidity with inflammatory markers, but only in old age. In this thesis, I investigated the association of inflammatory markers measured at 31 years of age and development of multimorbidity in middle-aged adults (46 years of age).

This thesis utilized data from Northern Finland Birth Cohort study of 1966. Nine inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IP-10, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-1α, IL-6, IL-1RA, CRP) measured at 31 years of age were selected. Multimorbidity at 46 years of age was assessed using 19 chronic diseases. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between inflammatory markers at 31 years and multimorbidity at 46 years of age.

Among the nine inflammatory markers examined, only IP-10 showed significant association [OR:1.16 (CI=1.01-1.33-1.02, p value=0.029)] with multimorbidity. This association remained significant even after adjusting for potential confounders of BMI, smoking, and sex. All other inflammatory markers showed weaker or nonsignificant association.

This study highlights the potential of using IP-10 as a biomarker for detecting early onset of multimorbidity in middle aged adults and facilitating early preventive treatment