Multimorbidity, Polypharmacy, and COVID-19 infection within the UK Biobank cohort
Authors: McQueenie Ross , Foster Hamish M.E. , Jani Bhautesh D. , Katikireddi Srinivasa Vittal , Sattar Naveed , Pell Jill P. , Ho Frederick K. , Niedzwiedz Claire L. , Hastie Claire E. , Anderson Jana , Mark Patrick B. , Sullivan Michael , O’Donnell Catherine A. , Mair Frances S. , Nicholl Barbara I. 
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

It is now well recognised that the risk of severe COVID-19 increases with some long-term conditions (LTCs). However, prior research primarily focuses on individual LTCs and there is a lack of data on the influence of multimorbidity (≥2 LTCs) on the risk of COVID-19. Given the high prevalence of multimorbidity, more detailed understanding of the associations with multimorbidity and COVID-19 would improve risk stratification and help protect those most vulnerable to severe COVID-19. Here we examine the relationships between multimorbidity, polypharmacy (a proxy of multimorbidity), and COVID-19; and how these differ by sociodemographic, lifestyle, and physiological prognostic factors.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We studied data from UK Biobank (428,199 participants; aged 37-73; recruited 2006-2010) on self-reported LTCs, medications, sociodemographic, lifestyle, and physiological measures which were linked to COVID-19 test data. Poisson regression models examined risk of COVID-19 by multimorbidity/polypharmacy and effect modification by COVID-19 prognostic factors (age/sex/ethnicity/socioeconomic status/smoking/physical activity/BMI/systolic blood pressure/renal function). 4,498 (1.05%) participants were tested; 1,324 (0.31%) tested positive for COVID-19. Compared with no LTCs, relative risk (RR) of COVID-19 in those with 1 LTC was no higher (RR 1.12 (CI 0.96-1.30)), whereas those with ≥2 LTCs had 48% higher risk; RR 1.48 (1.28-1.71). Compared with no cardiometabolic LTCs, having 1 and ≥2 cardiometabolic LTCs had a higher risk of COVID-19; RR 1.28 (1.12-1.46) and 1.77 (1.46-2.15), respectively. Polypharmacy was associated with a dose response increased risk of COVID-19. All prognostic factors were associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 infection in multimorbidity; being non-white, most socioeconomically deprived, BMI ≥40 kg/m2, and reduced renal function were associated with the highest risk of COVID-19 infection: RR 2.81 (2.09-3.78); 2.79 (2.00-3.90); 2.66 (1.88-3.76); 2.13 (1.46-3.12), respectively. No multiplicative interaction between multimorbidity and prognostic factors was identified. Important limitations include the low proportion of UK Biobank participants with COVID-19 test data (1.05%) and UK Biobank participants being more affluent, healthier and less ethnically diverse than the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing multimorbidity, especially cardiometabolic multimorbidity, and polypharmacy are associated with a higher risk of developing COVID-19. Those with multimorbidity and additional factors, such as non-white ethnicity, are at heightened risk of COVID-19.

Author summary

Why was this study done?

Multimorbidity is a growing global challenge, but thus far LTC prognostic factors for severe COVID-19 primarily involve single conditions and there is a lack of data on the influence of multimorbidity on the risk of COVID-19.

As countries move from the lockdown phase of COVID-19, clinicians need more information about risk stratification to appropriately advise patients with multimorbidity about risk prevention steps.

What did the researchers do and find?

Participants with multimorbidity (≥2 LTCs) had a 48% higher risk of a positive COVID-19 test, those with cardiometabolic multimorbidity had a 77% higher risk, than those without that type of multimorbidity.

Those from non-white ethnicities with multimorbidity had nearly three times the risk of having COVID-19 infection compared to those of white ethnicity

People with multimorbidity with the highest risk of COVID-19 infection were the most socioeconomically deprived, those with BMI ≥40 kg/m2, and those with reduced renal function.

What do these findings mean?

Individuals with ≥2 LTCs, especially if these are cardiometabolic in nature, should be particularly stringent in adhering to preventive measures, such as physical distancing and hand hygiene.

Our findings have implications for clinicians, occupational health and employers when considering work-place environments, appropriate advice for patients, and adaptations that might be required to protect such staff, identified here, as higher risk.