Relationship of the CD mean age of occurrence with its order of appearance (Panel A) and the risk to develop CD during the follow-up period (Panel B) and an overview of the evolution of multimorbidity (Panel C).

<p>CVD: cardiovascular disease, COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.</p

Proportion of individuals with a specific CD at baseline that developed at least one CD during the follow-up.

<p>The X-axis correspond to the proportion (60%) of those that developed at least one CD during follow-up among those that had at least one CD at baseline. *significantly different from the mean proportion of individual that developed CD. Error bar are confidence interval (95%).</p

Physical and psychological domains of quality of life according to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in the EpiFloripa study (Southern Brazil, 2012–2013) and North West Adelaide Health Study (South Australia, 2008–2010).

<p>Physical and psychological domains of quality of life according to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in the EpiFloripa study (Southern Brazil, 2012–2013) and North West Adelaide Health Study (South Australia, 2008–2010).</p

Comparison of chronic diseases developed during follow-by mean age of occurrence (Panel A), pre-existing CD status (Panel B, table) and percent occurring as a first CD (Panel B, Figure).

<p>The Y axis of Panel A correspond to the estimated mean age (59) at which CD were developed during follow-up. Error bar from panel A are confidence interval (95%). The Light and dark gray bars correspond to CD developed as a first and a subsequent CD respectively ^* and ^§significantly different from the first CD group in every models and in the age and sex adjusted models respectively.</p

Proportion of the 1854 participants by number of CD and by individual CD status at baseline and follow-up and the number and type of CD developed during the 7.8 years of follow-up.

<p>COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and CVD: Cardiovascular disease and stroke.</p

Physical and socio-demographic characteristics of the 1854 participants to the North West Adelaide Health Study at baseline (2002).

<p>Physical and socio-demographic characteristics of the 1854 participants to the North West Adelaide Health Study at baseline (2002).</p

Crude and adjusted analyses¹ of the association between clinical health status and quality of life (physical and psychological domains) in the EpiFloripa study (Southern Brazil, 2012–2013) and North West Adelaide Health Study (South Australia, 2008–2010).

<p>Crude and adjusted analyses<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198769#t003fn001" target="_blank">¹</a> of the association between clinical health status and quality of life (physical and psychological domains) in the EpiFloripa study (Southern Brazil, 2012–2013) and North West Adelaide Health Study (South Australia, 2008–2010).</p

Prevalence of sociodemographic and clinical variables among adults in the EpiFloripa study (Southern Brazil, 2012–2013) and North West Adelaide Health Study (South Australia, 2008–2010).

<p>Prevalence of sociodemographic and clinical variables among adults in the EpiFloripa study (Southern Brazil, 2012–2013) and North West Adelaide Health Study (South Australia, 2008–2010).</p

Impact of the presence of asthma or mood and anxiety disorders at baseline on CD development as compared to those with a another CD at baseline that also developed CD.

<p>*significantly different between individuals with either Asthma or Mood and anxiety disorders groups and the rest of the individuals in the progressive multimorbidity groups at baseline; NS: no significant difference;</p>?<p>Model adjusted for age, sex, BMI, marital status, education, income and working status at baseline,</p>§<p>The sum of this column is not 100% since some individuals developed more than one CD; CD: chronic disease; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and CVD =  cardiovascular disease and stroke.</p

Prevalence of PA according to the clinical health status among adults in the EpiFloripa study (Southern Brazil) and North West Adelaide Health Study (NWAHS, South Australia).

<p>(A) “Walking”. (B) Moderate/vigorous PA. At risk of CVD: Individuals with hypertension and/or dyslipidemia and/or diabetes and/or obesity and/or abdominal obesity, but without cardiovascular diseases. With CVD: Including myocardial infarction, angina, heart failure, atrial fibrillation/arrhythmia, and/or stroke (with or without risk factor).</p