Background Having multiple long-term conditions has been associated with a higher treatment burden, reduced quality of life and a higher risk of mortality. Epidemiological evidence suggests that people from minoritised ethnic groups have a higher prevalence of multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) but questions remain regarding the patterning of MLTCs by age, how this varies for different ethnic group populations, and across conceptualisations of MLTCs (for example, MLTCs with and without mental health conditions). The aim of this study is to examine ethnic inequalities in age-related patterns of MLTCs, and combinations of physical and mental health conditions. Methods We analysed data from the English GP Patient Survey (GPPS) 2015-2017, and Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum from 2016, to give us insight into self-reported and primary care recorded long-term conditions in people aged 18 years and above. We described the association between two or more long-term conditions and age using multilevel regression models adjusting for sex and area-level deprivation with patients nested within GP practices. Similar analyses were repeated for MLTCs that included a mental health condition. Findings For both self-reported and primary care recorded LTCs, people from most minoritised ethnic groups had a lower prevalence of MLTCs at younger ages compared to their white counterparts. We observed ethnic inequalities from middle age onwards such that in later life, Pakistani, Indian, Black Caribbean and people of Other ethnicity were at an increased risk of having MLTCs compared to white British people. These trends remained after adjusting for area-level deprivation. Compared to white British people, Gypsy and Irish Travellers had higher levels of MLTCs across the age groups, and Chinese people had lower levels. Pakistani and Bangladeshi people aged 50-74 years were more likely than white British people to report two or more LTCs that included a mental health condition. People from other minoritised ethnic groups were less likely to report this compared to white British people. Conclusion We find clear evidence of ethnic inequalities in MLTCs. It is imperative for health systems to recognise and respond to the higher prevalence of MLTCs that develop by middle age for many minoritised ethnic group people. The lower prevalence of MLTCs that include a mental health condition among some minoritised ethnic group people may be an underestimation due to underdiagnosis and/or inadequate care in primary care and requires further scrutiny.

MS is employed by The Health Foundation. The authors have no competing interest to declare.

This work is funded by The Health Foundation (AIMS 1874695)

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This study is part of a project that was given ethical approval by the Ethics committee of the University of Sussex. The study was reviewed for ethical and methods content and approved via the CPRD Research Data Governance (RDG) Process.

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The study uses individual-level data from General Practice Patient Survey which is available from Ipsos MORI via a data sharing agreement with NHS England. We also use routinely collected individual patient data which can be obtained from Clinical Research Practice Datalink subject to protocol approval via the CPRD Research Data Governance (RDG) Process. Although these data are anonymised, they are considered sensitive data in the UK by the Data Protection Act and, therefore, cannot be shared publicly. Information about applying to use GPPS data can be found at https://gp-patient.co.uk/contact and https://www.cprd.com/data-access respectively

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