The experience of intimate partner violence and age at the onset of multimorbidity: a population-based cohort study in Australian women.

INTRODUCTION

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with increased risk of various chronic conditions, yet its association with multimorbidity and its onset age is unknown. This population-based study investigated these associations.

METHODS

Data from 12949 women born between 1946 and 1951 who participated in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were analysed. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between IPV and multimorbidity. Weibull regression model was used to investigate whether experiencing IPV was associated with earlier onset of multimorbidity. Random forest was applied to identify the most important risk factors.

RESULTS

At the end of the survey (ages 72 to 77), the proportion of women with multimorbidity was 44.6 % (58.3 % for women with IPV versus 41.9 % for others). Multimorbidity was more common among women with lower education, physical inactivity, obesity, history of hypertension, and among smokers, those who consumed alcohol at risky level, and those who had experienced childhood sexual abuse or IPV. The mean age at onset of multimorbidity for women reporting IPV was 8.7 years (95 % CI: 8.5, 8.9) earlier than for other women (70.1 versus 78.8 years). IPV was among the five most important risk factors (adjusted OR = 1.51 (95 % CI: 1.36, 1.67)), alongside childhood sexual abuse, body mass index, smoking, and history of hypertension.

CONCLUSION

IPV is an independent risk factor that increases the risk of multimorbidity and accelerates its onset. The findings underscore the importance of implementing IPV screening and support into routine health care strategies to mitigate its long-term health impacts.