Khanolkar AR, Chaturvedi N, Kuan V, et al. - Socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with earlier onset and more rapid accumulation of multimorbidity leading to widening inequalities into old age, with independent contributions from both childhood and adulthood socioeconomic position (SEP).

• A total of 3,723 participants from the UK 1946 National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) birth cohort study were included.

• Longitudinal multimorbidity trajectories between ages 36 and 69 years and impact of childhood (father’s social class) and adulthood SEP (participant’s own social class and educational level) were assessed.

• A 1.2 to 1.4 times greater number of health conditions on average were evident in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged vs the most advantaged, throughout follow-up.

• On average, increase in multimorbidity was observed across adulthood and into older ages in both socioeconomically disadvantaged and advantaged groups.

• SEP impacted the rate at which multimorbidity increased across adulthood as worse trajectories were evident in those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

• More rapid accumulation of multimorbidity was seen in relation to adverse adulthood SEP.

• There were independent links of childhood and adulthood SEP with multimorbidity across adulthood.