International Journal of General Medicine (Apr 2021)

Prevalence and Patterns of Comorbidity Among Middle-Aged and Elderly People in China: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on CHARLS Data

  • Fan ZY,
  • Yang Y,
  • Zhang CH,
  • Yin RY,
  • Tang L,
  • Zhang F

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 1449 – 1455

Abstract

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Zhao-Ya Fan,1 Yuan Yang,2 Chang-Hong Zhang,1 Ruo-Yun Yin,1 Lei Tang,1 Fan Zhang1 1School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Collaborative Innovation Center of Social Risks Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Fan ZhangSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +8613983782377Fax +86 13 68485068Email [email protected]: Under the background of the accelerated aging of the population, comorbidity in the elderly has gradually become a social problem. At present, the related studies on chronic diseases are mainly focused on a single disease. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of common chronic diseases, the conditions and patterns of comorbidity in middle-aged and elderly people in China.Methods: We extracted the data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A total of 14 diseases were included, and the prevalence was assessed by self-report. We calculate different disease combinations and perform descriptive statistics analysis of chronic disease and comorbidity status.Results: Among the 6754 subjects, 2833 (42.0%) people had at least one chronic disease, and 1138 (17.0%) people had two or more diseases at the same time. The top three diseases of prevalence were hypertension (15.4%), arthritis or rheumatism (11.0%), and stomach or digestive diseases (9.3%). Common dual disease combinations were hypertension and dyslipidemia, hypertension and arthritis or rheumatism, arthritis or rheumatism and stomach or digestive diseases.Conclusion: Comorbidity is common in the population, and the pattern of chronic disease comorbidity is complex. Hypertension exists in a variety of comorbidity patterns, and its screening and prevention should be strengthened.Keywords: chronic diseases, comorbidity, CHARLS, China

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