Economic and Humanistic Burden of Multimorbidity in the United States: A Longitudinal Study of Expenditure and Quality of Life Trajectories, 2019–2022

This study examines the economic and humanistic burden associated with multimorbidity among adults in the United States. Using data from the 2019–2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), we identified individuals with two or more chronic conditions and assessed trends in healthcare expenditures, out-of-pocket costs, inpatient stays, and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Weighted analyses were conducted to estimate national patterns and annual changes across survey years. Outcomes were analyzed using generalized estimating equation (GEE) models with AR(1) working correlation to compare adjusted mean total and out-of-pocket expenditures, inpatient utilization, and mental and physical HRQL across multimorbidity profiles while controlling for sociodemographic and health factors. Findings showed that multimorbidity was associated with substantial economic burden, reflected in higher healthcare costs and out-of-pocket spending over time. HRQL consistently declined throughout the study years, highlighting the growing humanistic toll of chronic disease clustering. These findings provide longitudinal evidence of persistent disparities associated with multimorbidity and may inform future research and health system planning strategies. The results provide timely evidence for health policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve health system efficiency and equity in managing multimorbidity.