The prevalence of cardiometabolic multimorbidity and its associations with health outcomes among women in China

Objective

In China, a limited number of studies focus on women and examine the effect of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (defined as the presence of two or more cardiometabolic diseases) on health outcomes. This research aims to investigate the epidemiology of cardiometabolic multimorbidity and the association of cardiometabolic multimorbidity with long-term mortality.

Methods

This study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study between 2011 and 2018, which includes 4,832 women aged 45 years and older in China. Poisson-distributed Generalized Linear Models (GLM) were applied to examine the association of cardiometabolic multimorbidity with all-cause mortality.

Results

Overall, the prevalence of cardiometabolic multimorbidity was 33.1% among the total sample of 4,832 Chinese women, and increased with age, ranging from 28.5% (22.1%) for those aged 45-54 years to 65.3% (38.2%) for those aged ≥75 years in urban (rural) areas. Compared with the group of none and single disease, cardiometabolic multimorbidity was positively associated with all-cause death (RR = 1.509, 95% CI = 1.130, 2.017), after adjusting socio-demographic and lifestyle behavioral covariates. Stratified analyses revealed that the association between cardiometabolic multimorbidity and all-cause death was only statistically significant (RR = 1.473, 95% CI = 1.040, 2.087) in rural residents, but not significant in urban residents.

Conclusion

Cardiometabolic multimorbidity is common among women in China and has been associated with excess mortality. Targeted strategies and people-centered integrated primary care models must be considered to more effectively manage the cardiometabolic multimorbidity shift from focusing on single-disease.

Impacts of multimorbidity on medication treatment, primary healthcare and hospitalization among middle-aged and older adults in China: evidence from a nationwide longitudinal study

Background

Multimorbidity is a significant contributor to inequalities in healthcare and has become a major unaddressed challenge for the health system in China. The aim of this study is to assess the socio-demographic distribution of multimorbidity and the relationships between multimorbidity, primary healthcare, hospitalization and healthcare spending.

Methods

We conducted this nationwide population-based panel data study in China. Study participants included 12,306 residents aged ≥45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2011, 2013 and 2015. Random-effects logistic regression models were applied to estimate the association between multimorbidity and primary healthcare as well as admission to the hospital. We used log-linear regression models to investigate the association between multimorbidity and health spending.

Results

Overall, 46.2% of total interviewees reported multimorbidity. Random-effects logistic regression analyses showed that multimorbidity was associated with a higher likelihood of medication use (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) =19.19, 95% CI = 17.60, 20.93), health check (AOR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.43, 1.59), outpatient care (AOR = 2.39, 95% CI = 2.23, 2.56) and admission to hospital (AOR = 2.94, 95% CI = 2.68, 3.21). Log-linear regression models showed that multimorbidity was also positively associated with spending for outpatient care (coefficient = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.59, 0.68) and hospitalization (coefficient = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.60, 0.71).

Conclusions

Multimorbidity is associated with higher levels of primary care, hospitalization and greater financial burden to individuals in China. Health systems need to shift from single-disease models to new financing and service delivery models to more effectively manage multimorbidity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11456-7.

The Prevalence of Metabolic Disease Multimorbidity and Its Associations With Spending and Health Outcomes in Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese Adults

Objective: Metabolic diseases have been a clinical challenge worldwide and a major public health issue. Very few studies from China investigated the impact of metabolic multimorbidity on healthcare and health outcomes at the national level. This study aims to examine the association of metabolic multimorbidity with health service utilization, spending, functional and mental health. Materials and Methods: This is a nationally representative cross-sectional study, utilizing the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2015, including 11,377 participants aged 45 years and older. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the association of metabolic multimorbidity with healthcare, out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), the activities of daily living (ADL) limitation, the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) limitation, and depression. Results: Overall, 30.50% of total participants had metabolic multimorbidity in 2015 in China. Compared with single disease, metabolic multimorbidity were associated with the number of outpatient visits [incident rate ratio (IRR) = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.62] and days of inpatient care (IRR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.28, 1.81). Metabolic multimorbidity was positively associated with the OOPE on outpatient care (coefficient = 82.99, 95% CI = 17.70, 148.27) and physical functional difficulties, including ADL limitation (odds ratio = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.18, 1.57). Conclusions: Metabolic multimorbidity is associated with higher levels of health-care service use, greater expenditure for outpatient care, and more difficulties in ADL among Chinese adults. China's health-care systems need to shift from single-disease models to new financing and service delivery models to effectively manage metabolic multimorbidity.

Effects of medication reviews on use of potentially inappropriate medications in elderly patients; a cross-sectional study in Swedish primary care

Background

Drug use among the elderly population is generally extensive and the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) is common, which increases the risk for drug-related problems (DRP). Medication reviews are one method to improve drug therapy by identifying, preventing and solving DRPs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of medication reviews on total drug use and potentially inappropriate drug use in elderly patients, as well as describe the occurrence and types of drug-related problems.

Method

This was a cross-sectional analysis to study medication reviews conducted by trained clinical pharmacists followed by team-based discussions with general practitioners (GPs) and nurses, for elderly primary care patients in Skåne, Sweden. Included in the analysis were patients ≥75 years living in nursing homes or in their own homes with home care, who received a medication review during 2011–2012. Documented DRPs were described as both the type of DRPs and as pharmacists’ recommendations to the GP. The usage of ≥3 psychotropics and PIMs (antipsychotics, anticholinergics, long-acting benzodiazepines, tramadol and propiomazine) at baseline and after medication review were also studied.

Results

The analysis included a total of 1720 patients. They were on average aged 87.5 years, used typically 11.3 drugs (range 1–35) and 61% of them used 10 drugs or more. Of the patients, 84% had at least one DRP with a mean of 2.2 DRPs/patient. Of the DRPs, 12% were attributable to PIMs. The proportion of patients with ≥ one PIM was reduced significantly (p < 0.001) as was the use of ≥3 psychotropics (p < 0.001). The most common DRP was unnecessary drug therapy (39%), followed by dose too high (21%) and wrong drug (20%). Drug withdrawal was the most common result.

Conclusion

This study shows that medication reviews performed in everyday care are one way of improving drug use among elderly patients. The use of potentially inappropriate medications and use of three or more psychotropic drugs decreased after the medication review. Our study also shows that drug use is extensive in nursing home residents and elderly patients with homecare, and that unnecessary drug therapy is a common problem.