Navigating Multimorbidity in Older Adults: A Mapping Review

Introduction. Multimorbidity is an increasing global concern, particularly among older populations, affecting 55-98% of those aged ≥ 65 and above. This study aims to provide a comprehensive global overview of research on multimorbidity in older adults. It will assess the quantity and types of studies focused on the prevalence, patterns, determinants, risk factors, and consequences of multimorbidity, while also identifying key research gaps for future studies. Methods. This mapping review study was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases in December 2024. Only full-text papers published in English were included. The search terms included ‘aged’, ‘multimorbidity’, ‘multiple chronic conditions’, ‘prevalence’, ‘cost of illness’, ‘social determinants’, ‘risk factors’, and ‘Albania’. After filtering, all results were exported to Rayyan reference management software. Duplicates were removed, and the remaining papers were evaluated for suitability based on their titles and abstracts. Results. After the full text screening the final set for data extraction includes seven observational studies on multimorbidity in older adults. Europe has the highest number of studies, with four, followed by Asia with three studies. Despite this, Asia has a greater coverage of studies on multimorbidity in older populations. North and South America are represented by two studies from each. Six of included studies examine the prevalence of multimorbidity, with four exploring its patterns and consequences, and one investigating its determinants and its risk factors. Discussions. There are notable gaps in research on multimorbidity in older adults, particularly regarding its determinants, and risk factors. No studies on multimorbidity in older adults were found for Africa and Australia in the period 2019-2024.