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July 29, 2021

Andrew Campbell 

The study, “Prevalence and early-life determinants of mid-life multimorbidity: evidence from the 1970 British birth cohort,” published on July 28 in the journal BMC Public Health, polled a total of 7,951 of them. The Economic and Social Research Council funds the Centre for Longitudinal Studies, which is part of the UCL Social Research Institute. The 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) follows the lives of approximately 17,000 people born in England in 1970. According to the article, 34% of people between the ages of 46 and 48 had two or more chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure and mental illness.

Chronic back problems (21%), mental illness (19%), high blood pressure (16%), diabetes, asthma/bronchitis, and high-risk drinking (26%) are the most common health issues. Mid-life multimorbidity was prevalent in 33.8 percent of people aged 46–48. According to the study, those who grew up in poorer families were 43 percent more likely to have multiple long-term health problems in their late 40s than those who grew up in wealthier families.

Experts discovered a link between childhood issues, such as being overweight or internalizing problems, and chronic health problems in middle age. Furthermore, the researchers propose that targeted public health interventions in childhood and adolescence may improve the outcomes of future generations. Experts advise that a healthy diet, limiting alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and engaging in regular exercise can help even in old age.