Gendered Patterns of Multimorbidity across Migration Backgrounds: Evidence from Norwegian Population Registers (2014–2019)

Dina Maskileyson , University of Luxembourg
Bettina Hünteler, DIW Berlin

This study examines gendered patterns of multimorbidity across migration backgrounds in Norway, with particular emphasis on women’s health and women-specific multimorbidities. Multimorbidity, defined as the coexistence of two or more chronic diseases, represents an important indicator of cumulative health disadvantage but remains underexplored in migration and gender research. Using national registry data from the Norwegian Population Register and KUHR database (2014–2019), we analyze the health profiles of 2.7 million native-born individuals, 550,000 first-generation immigrants, and 190,000 second-generation immigrants aged 20 and older. We identify multimorbidity clusters using Latent Class Analysis (LCA) based on 39 chronic conditions grouped into 15 diagnostic categories and apply multinomial logistic regression to examine how these clusters vary by migration background, gender, and reason for migration. Preliminary results reveal five distinct multimorbidity clusters: “Relatively Healthy” (63.4%), “Primary Hypertension” (17.5%), “Mental and Chronic Pain Conditions” (12.4%), “Mixed Cardiopulmonary Conditions” (4.5%), and “Severe Asthma and Allergy” (2.1%). First- and second-generation immigrants show slightly lower multimorbidity rates than natives, but disease profiles differ markedly. Women across all groups are less likely to belong to the “Relatively Healthy” cluster and more likely to experience mental health, pain, and allergy-related multimorbidity, particularly among second-generation immigrants. These findings highlight that multimorbidity in Norway is patterned by gender, migration background, and migration reason. Future analyses will incorporate women-specific conditions to deepen understanding of how migration background contributes to gendered health inequalities in high-income welfare states.

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 Presented in Session P4. Migration, Migrants, and Mobility