Table 4 Association of multimorbidity with socio-demographic characteristics: results from multilevel linear regression analyses allowing for random effects at the study centre and GP practice-within-study centre level

Age

0.07 (0.05/0.08)

< 0.001

0.04 (0.03/0.06)

< 0.001

0.01 (-0.00/0.02)

0.243

Gender: female

-0.27 (-0.44/-0.09)

0.003

-1.29 (-1.42/-1.15)

< 0.001

0.79 (0.66/0.91)

< 0.001

Marital status (in relation to'never married')

- married

0.11 (-0.32/0.54)

0.608

0.02 (-0.31/0.35)

0.918

0.09 (-0.23/0.40)

0.590

- estranged (married, but living in separate homes)

0.19 (-0.42/0.79)

0.545

-0.13 (-0.59/0.33)

0.582

0.43 (-0.01/0.87)

0.058

- divorced

-0.03 (-0.44/0.38)

0.898

-0.02 (-0.33/0.29)

0.910

0.07 (-0.23/0.37)

0.647

- widowed

0.12 (-0.23/0.46)

0.511

0.09 (-0.18/0.35)

0.515

0.03 (-0.23/0.28)

0.834

Household type (in relation to 'living at home alone')

- living at home with spouse

-0.10 (-0.42/0.23)

0.562

0.05 (-0.20/0.30)

0.678

-0.08 (-0.32/0.16)

0.494

- living at home with family members or others

0.24 (-0.14/0.62)

0.210

0.22 (-0.06/0.51)

0.128

-0.07 (-0.34/0.20)

0.611

- living in assisted living or retirement home

-0.01 (-0.59/0.57)

0.967

0.27 (-0.17/0.71)

0.231

-0.48 (-0.90/-0.06)

0.024

Education (in relation to 'low level')

- medium level

-0.26 (-0.45/-0.07)

0.008

-0.17 (-0.31/-0.02)

0.024

-0.09 (-0.23/0.05)

0.194

- high level

-0.29 (-0.57/-0.01)

0.043

-0.26 (-0.48/-0.05)

0.017

-0.10 (-0.31/0.10)

0.317

Degree of autonomy at former occupation (5 point scale)

-0.02 (-0.10/0.06)

0.571

-0.05 (-0.11/0.01)

0.084

0.04 (-0.02/0.09)

0.221

Household-size adjusted net income (natural logarithm)

-0.27 (-0.47/-0.08)

0.005

-0.16 (-0.31/-0.01)

0.035

-0.12 (-0.26/0.02)

0.094

Home ownership

-0.13 (-0.30/0.05)

0.148

-0.07 (-0.20/0.06)

0.315

-0.03 (-0.15/0.10)

0.658