Table 1

Prevalence of multimorbidity by gender according to sociodemographic and lifestyle factors

VariablesLevels Total Men Women Difference
OverallMultimorbidityOverallMultimorbidityOverallMultimorbidityMen vs Womenp Value
n=49946(%)n=21198(%)n=28748(%)(%)
Age (years)40–4923 07413.990128.614 06217.3−8.7* <0.001
50–6017 51222.7732114.210 19128.8−14.6* <0.001
61–75936030.4486520.9449540.6−19.7* <0.001
Residential areaRural38 35420.216 51413.321 84025.4−12.2* <0.001
Urban11 59219.8468413.8690823.9−10.0* <0.001
EthnicityTurkmen37 25319.616 05112.621 20224.9−12.3* <0.001
Other 12 69321.5514715.8754625.4−9.5* <0.001
Marital statusUnmarried43 87318.620 63413.423 23923.3−10.0* <0.001
Married607330.656414.2550932.3−18.1* <0.001
EducationIlliterate35 06023.410 40615.624 65426.7−11.1* <0.001
≤5 years844913.6554511.7290417.3−5.5* <0.001
6–12 years537610.9431710.8105911.1−0.30.761
University degree10619.993010.31316.93.50.219
EmployedYes43 41518.517 52911.325 88623.3−12.0* <0.001
No653030.7366823.1286240.5−17.4* <0.001
Soc ioeconomic statusGood18 83118.1870312.710 12822.7−10.0* <0.001
Medium24 00120.5974813.314 25325.4−12.1* <0.001
Poor710524.1274115.9436429.2−13.3* <0.001
Physical activityYes15 83813.311 30810.2453020.8−10.6* <0.001
No33 94723.2985217.024 09525.8−8.8* <0.001
Body mass index (BMI)Underweight238017.4124514.1113521.0−6.9* <0.001
Normal17 87114.9959611.3827519.2−7.9* <0.001
Overweight16 99320.4727114.4972224.9−10.6* <0.001
Obese12 69427.4308117.3961330.7−13.3* <0.001
Smoking Never41 32321.113 01812.828 30524.9−12.1* <0.001
Ex-smoker318921.2306420.312544.0−23.7* <0.001
Light smoker (<20 cigarettes/day)327211.130139.925925.5−15.6* <0.001
Heavy smoker (≥20 cigarettes/day)216113.0210312.15844.8−32.7* <0.001
Other tobacco useYes (ever)442719.7374917.767830.8−13.1* <0.001
No (never)45 51920.117 44912.528 07024.9−12.4* <0.001
OpiumYes (ever)848919.6613811.7235124.0−12.3* <0.001
No (never)41 45722.71506017.426 39736.2−18.8* <0.001
AlcoholYes (ever)172120.2170113.02025.0−12.1* <0.001
No (never)48 22518.219 49718.228 72825.0−6.80.435
  • *p <0.001.

  • †Other: Persian, Turk, Sistani, Baluch and Kurdish.

  • ‡Individuals were defined as smokers if they had used cigarettes at least once weekly for 6 months.