Food consumption influences aging since eating large amounts of foods rich in fats and sugars, as well as low consumption of fruits and vegetables, are factors associated with obesity and multimorbidity. In the older adults, chronic diseases are increasingly being analyzed in terms of involvement, considering their similarities in symptomatological/clinical characteristics, and evaluating their possible health complications. So far, the direction and magnitude of the existing association between food consumption and multimorbidity patterns is unknown, which demonstrates the relevance of this analysis to support the promotion of healthier eating habits by the older adult's population.

To verify the association between food consumption and multimorbidity patterns in the older adults.

Cross-sectional study, with data from 22,728 Brazilian community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years old) participating in the National Health Survey 2019. Food consumption was analyzed by individual food items (fruits and vegetables, beans, red meat, chicken, fish, sweets, milk) and the substitution of meals for quick snacks (SMQS) and categorized in times/week: never or less than one (reference category); one; 2-3; every day. Salt intake was categorized as very low/low, adequate, or very high/high. Outcomes were multimorbidity patterns, assessed by self-reporting the coexistence of two or more chronic diseases with similar clinical characteristics: cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, and vascular-metabolic. Logistic regression analyzes were performed, adjusted for gender, age group, years of study, body mass index and level of leisure-time physical activity.

The older adults who consumed fish once (OR=0.68; CI95%=0.54-0.87), 2-3 (OR=0.62; CI95%=0.46-0.83) and every day of the week (OR=0.61; CI95%=0.38-0.99) were less likely to be affected by the cardiopulmonary pattern, while those who consumed sweets every day (OR=1.34; CI95%=1.02-1.76) and very high/high amount of salt (OR=1.52; 95%CI=1.06-2.17) were more likely to be affected by this pattern. Consuming chicken 2-3 (OR=1.59; CI95%=1.02-2.49) and SMQS once/week (OR=3.33; CI95%=1.15-9.62) increased the odds of involvement by the musculoskeletal pattern. Consuming red meat 2-3 (OR=0.82; CI95%=0.74-0.90) and every day (OR=0.76; CI95%=0.68-0.84) decreased the chances of involvement by the vascular-metabolic pattern; in the same way as eating sweets one (OR=0.89; CI95%=0.80-0.99), 2-3 (OR=0.77; CI95%=0.71-0.85) and all days (OR=0.76; CI95%=0.69-0.84), and ingest adequate (OR=0.69; CI95%=0.65-0.74) and very high/high amount of salt (OR=0.83; CI95%=0.72-0.95). However, consuming chicken (OR=1.21; CI95=1.07-1.36) and milk every day (OR=1.10; CI95%=1.02-1.18) increased the chances of being affected by the vascular-metabolic pattern.

There was a negative association between fish consumption and cardiopulmonary pattern, while sweets and salt were positively associated. Consuming chicken and SMQS were positively associated with musculoskeletal pattern. Finally, there was a positive association between the consumption of chicken and milk with a vascular-metabolic pattern, while sweets, salt and red meat were negatively associated.

This study will help health workers to prevent and adopt a more effective integrative approach, considering food consumption as a potential factor to reduce the chances of developing multimorbidity patterns in older adults.