Investigating physical and mental health multimorbidity determinants throughout the lifespan.

Multimorbidity (MM) happens when two or more different conditions are present at the same time in an individual. MM commonly occurs between physical and psychiatric conditions. Almost half of people with a psychiatric condition also have a physical condition. Furthermore, about a third of people with a physical condition also have a psychiatric condition. People with MM have worse quality of life than those with a single condition. They often struggle to get the best care and are at risk of decreased life expectancy.

MM is particularly common between depression and anxiety (referred to as internalizing conditions) and cardiometabolic conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes). MM of internalizing and cardiometabolic conditions (ICM-MM) place a great burden on affected individuals and a major strain on healthcare services. 

Risk of internalizing and cardiometabolic conditions (e.g., obesity, blood pressure) often begins before adulthood. Neurodevelopmental conditions that start early in life (such as intellectual disability, autism and ADHD) can increase this risk. Stressful childhood experiences (such as poverty and physical or sexual abuse) can also contribute to this risk. Furthermore, certain groups in society are at greater risk than others, e.g., people of lower socio-economic position and women. But how these factors influence risk of ICM-MM over the lifespan remains poorly understood. 

We will study this important question in a unique set of studies which have followed the health of children, adolescents and adults of different ages over time. Rich medical data are available as well as information on people's living environments, life events, and lifestyles.  We will study how ICM-MM develops throughout adulthood. Importantly we can also identify early risk factors in the children before they develop these conditions. 

We will work together with health professionals, policymakers and schools to ensure our findings pave the way for new approaches to prevention and early intervention.