Relationship between multimorbidity, disease cluster and all-cause mortality among older adults: a retrospective cohort analysis

Association between single and multiple cardiometabolic diseases and all-cause mortality among Chinese older adults: A prospective, nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) are leading causes of death and disability, but little is known about the additive mortality effects of multiple CMDs. This study aimed to examine the association between single and multiple CMDs and all-cause mortality among older Chinese population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) database, we analyzed data from 2008 to 2018 to assess the relationship between CMDs and mortality. Cox regression models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for single and multiple CMDs. At baseline, 11,351 participants (56.9% female) aged 60 years or older were included. 11.91% of participants had a single CMD, 1.51% had two CMDs, and 0.22% had three CMDs. Over a decade follow-up, 8992 deaths (79.2%) were recorded. A dose-response relationship was observed, with the mortality risk increasing by 17% for each additional disease. The fully-adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality were 1.16, 1.36, and 2.03 for one, two, and three CMDs, respectively. Larger effects of single and multiple CMDs were observed in the male group (P = 0.015) and the younger senior group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This large-scale study found that CMDs multiply mortality risks, especially in younger seniors and males. The risk is highest when heart disease and stroke coexist, and diabetes further increases it. Public health efforts should prioritize evidence-based management and prevention of CMDs.

The effectiveness of social prescribing in the management of long-term conditions in community-based adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of social prescribing interventions in the management of long-term conditions in adults.

DATA SOURCES

Eleven electronic databases were searched for randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials.

REVIEW METHODS

Outcomes of interest were quality of life, physical activity, psychological well-being and disease-specific measures. Bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. A narrative synthesis and meta-analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Twelve studies (n = 3566) were included in this review. Social prescribing interventions were heterogeneous and the most common risks of bias were poor blinding and high attrition. Social prescribing interventions designed to target specific long-term conditions i.e., cancer and diabetes demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life (n = 2 studies) and disease-specific psychological outcomes respectively (n = 3 studies). There was some evidence for improvement in physical activity (n = 2 studies) but most changes were within group only (n = 4 studies). Social prescribing interventions did not demonstrate any significant changes in general psychological well-being.

CONCLUSION

Social prescribing interventions demonstrated some improvements across a range of outcomes although the quality of evidence remains poor.

Association of longitudinal trajectories of fasting plasma glucose with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among a Chinese older population: a retrospective cohort study

The association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG), an important indicator of overall glycemic status, and the risk of cardiovascular mortality has been well investigated. The longitudinal study can repeatedly collect measured results for the variables to be studied and then consider the potential effects of intraindividual changes in measurement. This study aimed to identify long-term FPG trajectories and investigate the association between trajectory groups and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. A latent class growth mixture modeling (LCGMM) was used to identify FPG trajectories. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate associations between FPG trajectories and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. A U-shaped relationship between FPG and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was observed in the restricted cubic spline regression models. Two FPG longitudinal trajectories of low-level (mean FPG = 5.12mmol/L) and high-level (mean FPG = 6.74mmol/L) were identified by LCGMM. After being adjusted for potential confounders, compared with the low-level category, the hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 1.23(1.16-1.30) and 1.25(1.16-1.35), respectively, for the high-level group. Long-term FPG trajectories are significantly associated with and potentially impact the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity in China during 2002-2022: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Multimorbidity is common, particularly among elderly people. Restructuring health service systems to better manage this public health issue requires knowledge regarding disease prevalence and patterns. We quantified the epidemiology characteristics of multimorbidity among adults in China to inform policy-making and resource allocation.

METHODS

We searched 10 databases for studies (January 2000-October 2023) reporting primary epidemiological multimorbidity data for adults in China. We included observational studies; we excluded duplicate publications and studies investigating a single comorbidity pattern, focused on specific population categories, using medical insurance reimbursement data, and with unclear/incomplete data. We assessed risk of bias using the STROBE checklist and estimated heterogeneity among studies. The prevalence was pooled using the random-effects method and sample size as weight.

FINDINGS

Of 13,998 records retrieved, 67 studies (30 in English, 37 in Chinese) were included. The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of multimorbidity was 25.4% (15.1%, 35.7%) among Chinese adults. Among 42 studies reporting age-specific prevalence, multimorbidity prevalence increased rapidly with age: 3.3% (0%, 15.2%) for age 18-29 years, 5.9% (0%, 12.9%) for 30-44 years, 17.6% (6.1%, 29.1%) for 45-59 years, 32.4% (16.1%, 48.7%) for 60-69 years, 38.5% (23.6%, 53.4%) for 70-79 years, and 40.2% (20.8%, 59.6%) for age ≥ 80 years. Overall prevalence of multimorbidity has increased in recent years, with regional disparity. The most common patterns included hypertension with hearing impairment (10.4% [95% CI: 4.3%, 16.5%]), dyslipidemia (8.9% [4.1%, 13.6%]), and diabetes (8.7% [3.7%, 13.8%]).

CONCLUSION

Multimorbidity was present nearly one in four Chinese adults, with hypertensive diseases and other comorbidities being the most-observed pattern; the prevalence increased rapidly with increased age. There is huge variation in the prevalence of multimorbidity across China. Coordinated, comprehensive strategies are urgently needed to control the ongoing impact of multimorbidity.

Current definitions of advanced multimorbidity: a protocol for a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

People living with and dying from multimorbidity are increasing in number, and ensuring quality care for this population is one of the major challenges facing healthcare providers. People with multimorbidity often have a high burden of palliative and end-of-life care needs, though they do not always access specialist palliative care services. A key reason for this is that they are often not identified as being in the last stages of their life by current healthcare providers and systems.This scoping review aims to identify and present the available evidence on how people with multimorbidity are currently included in research, policy and clinical practice.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Scoping review methodology, based on Arksey and O'Malley's framework, will be undertaken and presented using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Search terms have been generated using the key themes of 'multimorbidity', 'end of life' and 'palliative care'. Peer-reviewed research will be obtained through systematic searching of Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus and PsycINFO. Grey literature will be searched in a systematic manner. Literature containing a definition for adults with multimorbidity in a terminal phase of their illness experience will be included. After screening studies for eligibility, included studies will be described in terms of setting and characteristics as well as using inductive content analysis to highlight the commonalities in definitions.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required for this scoping review. The findings of the scoping review will be used internally as part of SPB's PhD thesis at the University of St Andrews through the Multimorbidity Doctoral Training Programme for Health Professionals, which is supported by the Wellcome Trust (223499/Z/21/Z) and published in an open access, peer-reviewed journal for wider dissemination.

The Impact of Multimorbidity on All-Cause Mortality: A Longitudinal Study of 87,151 Thai Adults

Objectives: To investigate associations between multimorbidity, socio-demographic and health behaviour factors, and their interactions (multimorbidity and these factors) with all-cause mortality among Thai adults. Methods: Associations between multimorbidity (coexistence of two + chronic diseases) and mortality between 2005 and 2019 were investigated among Thai Cohort Study (TCS) participants (n = 87,151). Kaplan-Meier survival curves estimated and compared survival times. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models examined associations between risk factors, and interactions between multimorbidity, these factors, and survival. Results: 1,958 cohort members died between 2005 and 2019. The risk of death was 43% higher for multimorbid people. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, multimorbidity/number of chronic conditions, age, long sleep duration, smoking and drinking were all independent factors that increased mortality risk. Women, urbanizers, university education, over 20,000-baht personal monthly income and soybean products consumption lowered risk. The interactions between multimorbidity and these variables (except for female, urbanizers and soybeans intake) also had significant (p < 0.05) impact on all-cause mortality. Conclusion: The results emphasise the importance of healthy lifestyle and reduced intake of alcohol and tobacco, in reducing premature mortality, especially when suffering from multimorbidity.

Association of cognitive impairment and diabetes on survival in Chinese older people with hypertension: a 10-year prospective study

BACKGROUND

Older people with hypertension may have more complex multisystem problems and a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to examine the association of cognitive impairment (CI) and diabetes mellitus (DM) on all-cause mortality in the aged with hypertension (HTN).

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study with a sample of 1017 older people with hypertension aged 60 years or older who completed baseline examinations in 2009-2010 and followed up for ten years in 2020. The endpoint was death from any cause. Subjects were categorized as HTN only, HTN + DM, HTN + CI, and HTN + DM + CI. Cox regression model was used to determine the association of comorbidities on all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

During the 10-year follow-up period, 196 deaths occurred. After adjusted for covariates, risk of death from any cause was significantly increased in the older people with increased comorbidities (P = 0.003). Compared with the HTN only, with HTN + CI, and HTN + DM + CI, the HRs (95% confidence intervals) for all-cause mortality were 1.61(1.13-2.30) and 1.79(1.07-2.99), respectively. In stratified analyses, the relationship between comorbidities level and the risk of all-cause mortality persisted.

CONCLUSION

All-cause mortality risks increased with increasing the comorbidities. This study emphasizes the importance of comprehensive management of the older people with HTN in clinical practice and public health policy.

Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score and mortality of patients admitted to intermediate care units of a hospital in a low- and middle-income country: A cross-sectional study from Pakistan

Background

Intermediate care units (IMCUs) serve as a bridge between general wards and intensive care units by providing close monitoring and rapid response to medical emergencies. We aim to identify the common acute medical conditions in patients admitted to IMCU and compare the predicted mortality of these conditions by acute physiology and chronic health evaluation-II (APACHE-II) score with actual mortality.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital from 2017 to 2019. All adult internal medicine patients admitted to IMCUs were included. Acute conditions were defined as those of short duration (<3 weeks) that require hospitalization. The APACHE-II score was used to determine the severity of these patients' illnesses.

Results

Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 62 (16.5) years, and 493 (49.2%) patients were male. The top three acute medical conditions were acute and chronic kidney disease in 399 (39.8%), pneumonia in 303 (30.2%), and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 211 (21.1%). The mean (SD) APACHE-II score of these patients was 12.5 (5.4). The highest mean APACHE-II (SD) score was for acute kidney injury (14.7 ± 4.8), followed by sepsis/septic shock (13.6 ± 5.1) and UTI (13.4 ± 5.1). Sepsis/septic shock was associated with the greatest mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 6.9 [95% CI (confidence interval): 4.5-10.6]), followed by stroke (OR: 3.9 [95% CI: 1.9-8.3]) and pneumonia (OR: 3.0 [95% CI: 2.0-4.5]).

Conclusions

Sepsis/septic shock, stroke, and pneumonia are the leading causes of death in our IMCUs. The APACHE-II score predicted mortality for most acute medical conditions but underestimated the risk for sepsis and stroke.

Multimorbidity and adverse longitudinal outcomes among patients attending chronic outpatient medical care in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia

Background

Multimorbidity is becoming more prevalent in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the evidence base on the burden and its longitudinal outcomes are limited. This study aimed to determine the longitudinal outcomes of patients with multimorbidity among a sample of individuals attending chronic outpatient non communicable diseases (NCDs) care in Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A facility-based longitudinal study was conducted among 1,123 participants aged 40+ attending care for single NCD (n = 491) or multimorbidity (n = 633). Data were collected both at baseline and after 1 year through standardized interviews and record reviews. Data were analyzed using Stata V.16. Descriptive statistics and longitudinal panel data analyzes were run to describe independent variables and identify factors predicting outcomes. Statistical significance was considered at p-value <0.05.

Results

The magnitude of multimorbidity has increased from 54.8% at baseline to 56.8% at 1 year. Four percent (n = 44) of patients were diagnosed with one or more NCDs and those having multimorbidity at baseline were more likely than those without multimorbidity to develop new NCDs. In addition, 106 (9.4%) and 22 (2%) individuals, respectively were hospitalized and died during the follow up period. In this study, about one-third of the participants had higher quality of life (QoL), and those having higher high activation status were more likely to be in the higher versus the combined moderate and lower QoL [AOR1 = 2.35, 95%CI: (1.93, 2.87)] and in the combined higher and moderate versus lower level of QoL [AOR2 = 1.53, 95%CI: (1.25, 1.88)].

Conclusion

Developing new NCDs is a frequent occurrence and the prevalence of multimorbidity is high. Living with multimorbidity was associated with poor progress, hospitalization and mortality. Patients having a higher activation level were more likely than those with low activation to have better QoL. If health systems are to meet the needs of the people with chronic conditions and multimorbidity, it is essential to understand diseases trajectories and of impact of multimorbidity on QoL, and determinants and individual capacities, and to increase their activation levels for better health improve outcomes through education and activation.

Effects of multimorbidity coexistence on the risk of mortality in the older adult population in China

Background

Multimorbidity coexistence is a serious public health issue affecting a significant number of older adults worldwide. However, associations between multimorbidity and mortality are rarely studied in China. We assessed the effects of multimorbidity coexistence on mortality among a nationwide sample of older adults from China.

Objective

We analyzed 10-year (2008-2018) longitudinal data of 12,337 individuals who took part in China, a nationwide survey of people aged 65 years and above. We used the Cox proportional hazard model to determine the effects of multimorbidity on the all-cause mortality risk. We also examined mortality risk between sex and age obtained through differential analysis.

Results

At baseline, 30.2, 29.9, and 39.9% of participants had 0, 1, and 2 or more diseases, respectively. The cumulative follow-up of this study was 27,428 person-years (median follow-up = 2.7 years; range, 0.01-11.3 years), with 8297 deaths. The HRs (95% CIs) for all-cause mortality in participants with 1, and 2 or more conditions compared with those with none were 1.04 (0.98, 1.10) and 1.12 (1.06, 1.18), respectively. The heterogeneity analysis indicated that, the mortality risk for 80-94 years and 95-104 years group with multimorbidity coexistence is 1.12 (1.05-1.21) and 1.11 (1.01-1.23), respectively, but the mortality risk for 65-79 years group with multimorbidity coexistence was not statistically significant. The heterogeneity analysis indicated that, the mortality risk for men and women in older adults with multimorbidity coexistence is 1.15 (1.06, 1.25) and 1.08 (1.01, 1.17), respectively.

Conclusion

Multimorbidity coexistence is associated with an increase in an increased risk of death in older individuals, with the effect being relatively significant in those aged 80-94 years.

Association between multimorbidity patterns and incident depression among older adults in Taiwan: the role of social participation

Background

Previous research has found different multimorbidity patterns that negatively affects health outcomes of older adults. However, there is scarce evidence, especially on the role of social participation in the association between multimorbidity patterns and depression. Our study aimed to explore the relationship between multimorbidity patterns and depression among older adults in Taiwan, including the social participation effect on the different multimorbidity patterns.

Methods

Data were retracted from the Taiwan longitudinal study on ageing (TLSA) for this population-based cohort study. 1,975 older adults (age > 50) were included and were followed up from 1996 to 2011. We used latent class analysis to determine participants’ multimorbidity patterns in 1996, whereas their incident depression was determined in 2011 by CES-D. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyse the relationship between multimorbidity patterns and depression.

Results

The participants’ average age was 62.1 years in 1996. Four multimorbidity patterns were discovered through latent class analysis, as follows: (1) Cardiometabolic group (n = 93), (2) Arthritis-cataract group (n = 105), (3) Multimorbidity group (n = 128) and (4) Relatively healthy group (n = 1649). Greater risk of incident depression was found among participants in the Multimorbidity group (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.02–2.58) than the Relatively healthy group after the multivariable analysis. Compare to participants in the relatively healthy group with social participation, participants in the arthritis-cataract group without social participation (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.03–4.78) and the multimorbidity group without social participation (OR: 2.21, 95% CI: 1.14–4.30) had significantly increased risk of having depression.

Conclusion

Distinct multimorbidity patterns among older adults in Taiwan are linked with the incident depression during later life, and social participation functioned as a protective factor.

Multimorbidity patterns and mortality in older adults: Results from the KORA-Age study

The coexistence of several chronic diseases is very common in older adults, making it crucial to understand multimorbidity (MM) patterns and associated mortality. We aimed to determine the prevalence of MM and common chronic disease combinations, as well as their impact on mortality in men and women aged 65 years and older using the population-based KORA-Age study, based in South of Germany. The chronic disease status of the participants was determined in 2008/9, and mortality status was followed up until 2016. MM was defined as having at least two chronic diseases. We used Cox proportional hazard models to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between MM and all-cause mortality. During the study period 495 men (24.6%) and 368 women (17.4%) died. Although the MM prevalence was almost the same in men (57.7%) and women (60.0%), the overall effect of MM on mortality was higher in men (HR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.47–2.24) than in women (HR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01–1.64; p-value for interaction &lt;0.001). The type of disease included in the MM patterns had a significant impact on mortality risk. For example, when both heart disease and diabetes were included in the combinations of two and three diseases, the mortality risk was highest. The risk of premature death does not only depend on the number of diseases but also on the specific disease combinations. In this study, life expectancy depended strongly on a few diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

Global and regional prevalence of multimorbidity in the adult population in community settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Knowing the prevalence of multimorbidity among adults across continents is a crucial piece of information for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.4, which calls for reducing premature death due to non-communicable diseases. A high prevalence of multimorbidity indicates high mortality and increased healthcare utilization. We aimed to understand the prevalence of multimorbidity across WHO geographic regions among adults.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of surveys designed to estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity among adults in community settings. We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase and Google Scholar databases for studies published between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2021. The random-effects model estimated the pooled proportion of multimorbidity in adults. Heterogeneity was quantified using I² statistics. We performed subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses based on continents, age, gender, multimorbidity definition, study periods and sample size. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020150945).

FINDINGS

We analyzed data from 126 peer-reviewed studies that included nearly 15.4 million people (32.1% were male) with a weighted mean age of 56.94 years (standard deviation of 10.84 years) from 54 countries around the world. The overall global prevalence of multimorbidity was 37.2% (95% CI = 34.9-39.4%). South America (45.7%, 95% CI = 39.0-52.5) had the highest prevalence of multimorbidity, followed by North America (43.1%, 95% CI = 32.3-53.8%), Europe (39.2%, 95% CI = 33.2-45.2%), and Asia (35%, 95% CI = 31.4-38.5%). The subgroup study highlights that multimorbidity is more prevalent in females (39.4%, 95% CI = 36.4-42.4%) than males (32.8%, 95% CI = 30.0-35.6%). More than half of the adult population worldwide above 60 years of age had multimorbid conditions (51.0%, 95% CI = 44.1-58.0%). Multimorbidity has become increasingly prevalent in the last two decades, while the prevalence appears to have stayed stable in the recent decade among adults globally.

INTERPRETATION

The multimorbidity patterns by geographic regions, time, age, and gender suggest noticeable demographic and regional differences in the burden of multimorbidity. According to insights about prevalence among adults, priority is required for effective and integrative interventions for older adults from South America, Europe, and North America. A high prevalence of multimorbidity among adults from South America suggests immediate interventions are needed to reduce the burden of morbidity. Furthermore, the high prevalence trend in the last two decades indicates that the global burden of multimorbidity continues at the same pace. The low prevalence in Africa suggests that there may be many undiagnosed chronic illness patients in Africa.

FUNDING

None.

Multimorbidity combinations and their association with functional disabilities among Indian older adults: evidence from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI)

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify the unique multimorbidity combinations (MMCs) and their associations with the functional disability of Indian older adults. Moreover, the population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated to assess the potential impact of additional diseases in the nested groups on disability.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional data were analysed in this study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The present study uses data from the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (2017-2018). The sample for the study consists of 27 753 aged 60 years and over.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome variable was functional disability, measured by the combined activities of daily living (ADL)-instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) index.

RESULTS

Out of 197 uniquely identified MMCs, the combination of hypertension and high depressive symptoms (HDS) was the most prevalent (10.3%). Overall, all MMCs were associated with increased functional limitation. Specifically, the combination of hypertension, arthritis and HDS was associated with greater ADL-IADL disability than any other MMC. The addition of HDS in group 3 (hypertension and arthritis) (incidence rate ratios (IRR)=1.44; 95% CI 1.26 to 1.64) and the addition of arthritis in group 1 (hypertension, HDS) (IRR=1.48; 95% CI 1.28 to 1.71) and group 2 (hypertension, diabetes) (IRR=1.49; 95% CI 1.22 to 1.82) significantly increases the rates of ADL-IADL disability. The estimated PAFs of the group 1 (hypertension and HDS), group 3 (hypertension and arthritis) and group 4 (arthritis and HDS) for ADL-IADL disability were 22.5% (19.2-25.5), 21.6% (18.7-24.4) and 23.5% (20.6-26.3), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The findings from this study underscore the importance of addressing the morbidity combinations which are more disabling than the others in older adults. Understanding the somatic and psychological relevance of the morbidities in functional health is necessary and can help reduce disabilities among older adults.

Effect of Comorbidities on Ten-Year Survival in Patients with Dementia

BACKGROUND

There is a verified association between comorbidity and survival in patients with dementia.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the ten-year survival probability of patients with dementia and to identify the impact of comorbidity.

METHODS

The prognostic retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from adults with dementia who had visited the outpatient departments at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai hospital between 2006 and 2012. Dementia was verified in accordance with standard practice guidelines. Secondary data detailing about patient age, gender, date of dementia diagnosis and death, types of dementia, and comorbidities at the time of dementia diagnosis was obtained from electronic medical records. The association between comorbidity, patients' underlying disease at dementia diagnosis, and overall survival were analyzed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for age, gender, types of dementia, and other comorbidities.

RESULTS

Of the 702 patients, 56.9% were female. Alzheimer's disease (39.6%) was the most prevalent type of dementia. Median overall survival was 6.0 years (95% CI 5.5- 6.7). The comorbidities associated with a high risk of mortality included liver disease (aHR 2.70, 95% CI 1.46- 5.00), atrial fibrillation (aHR 2.15, 95% CI 1.29- 3.58), myocardial infarction (aHR 1.55, 95% CI 1.07- 2.26), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (aHR 1.40, 95% CI 1.13- 1.74).

CONCLUSION

Overall survival rate of patients with dementia in Thailand was comparable to previous studies. Several comorbidities were associated with a ten-year survival. The prognosis of patients with dementia may be improved by appropriate care of comorbidities.

Association of Metabolically Healthy Obesity and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Adults in China: A Retrospective Cohort Study

PURPOSE

Previous studies have shown that metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and changes in its status are connected to an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet, fewer studies have been conducted in China, especially for the middle-aged and elderly population, a high-risk group. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between metabolic health status and CVD events.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 46,055 participants were categorized into 6 subgroups with different metabolic states according to the existence of metabolic syndrome and body mass index (BMI). The changes in obesity and metabolic health status were defined from baseline to follow-up outcomes with a combination of overweight and obesity. Cox proportional hazards models estimated the association of CVD events and each BMI-metabolic groups.

RESULTS

MHO and metabolic abnormality normal weight (MANW) subjects had a higher HR of CVD, 1.62 (95% CI, 1.36-1.92) and 1.24 (95% CI, 1.07-1.44), respectively, than their metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW) counterparts. Then, more than 50% and 30% of the metabolically healthy overweight or obesity (MHOO) populations maintained their status and converted to a metabolically unhealthy state, respectively. Stable MANW, MHOO and metabolically abnormal obesity (MAO) were associated with a higher risk for CVD, 1.68 (95% CI, 1.37-2.05),1.26 (95% CI, 1.08-1.47) and 1.65 (95% CI, 1.45-1.88), respectively, than stable MHNW.

CONCLUSION

Despite being of normal weight, MANW status is in fact a risk factor for CVD, as well as MHO, especially for the Chinese middle-aged and elderly population. Furthermore, metabolic health is a transient state for partial middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals, and MAO has the highest risk of CVD, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.

Association of body roundness index and its trajectories with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among a Chinese middle-aged and older population: A retrospective cohort study

Objectives

The body roundness index (BRI) is a novel anthropometric index that is a better indicator for predicting fat distribution than the body mass index (BMI). The longitudinal study can repeatedly collect measured results for the variables to be studied and then consider the potential effects of intraindividual changes in measurement. However, few population-based, longitudinal studies of BRI have been conducted, especially among the Chinese population. The study aimed to investigate the association of BRI and its longitudinal trajectories with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Methods

A total of 71,166 participants with four times BRI measurements between January 2010 and December 2019 were included in this longitudinal study, with a median follow-up was 7.93 years, and 11,538 deaths were recorded, of which 5,892 deaths were due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). A latent class growth mixture modeling (LCGMM) was used to identify BRI trajectories. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate associations between BRI trajectories and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Results

In the restricted cubic spline regression models, a U-shaped relationship between BRI and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was observed. Three BRI longitudinal trajectories of low-stable (mean BRI = 2.59), moderate-stable (mean BRI = 3.30), and high-stable (mean BRI = 3.65) were identified by LCGMM. After being adjusted for potential confounders, the HRs for all-cause mortality were 1.18 (1.13-1.24) for the moderate-stable group and 1.74 (1.66-1.82) for the high-stable group compared to the low-stable group. The HRs for cardiovascular mortality were 1.12 (1.05-1.18) for the moderate-stable group and 1.64 (1.53-1.75) for the high-stable group compared to the low-stable group.

Conclusion

A nonlinear association of BRI with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was observed, and participants in the higher BRI longitudinal trajectory group were significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

A positive association between hunger in childhood and frailty in old age: Findings from the Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey

Background

Childhood hunger not only directly affects the physical and mental health of children and adolescents but also has a long-term negative effect on later health outcomes. In this cross-sectional study, we used a nationally representative Chinese sample to examine the relationship between hunger in childhood and frailty in older adults.

Materials and methods

The data were obtained from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The frailty index with 44 health deficits was used to identify frailty. Childhood hunger was measured by the question “Did you often go to bed hungry as a child?” Insurance status was categorized as New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS), Urban Basic Medical Insurance Scheme (UBMIS), others, and no insurance. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the adjusted relationship between childhood hunger and frailty.

Results

A total of 7,342 older people aged 65 years and older were analyzed in this study. Older people who experienced childhood hunger were more likely to have frailty than those who did not (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02–1.26), after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, family/social support, socioeconomic status, insurance status, and health behaviors. The association of childhood hunger with frailty was found in the 65–79 years group (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.03–1.43), women (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.08–1.45), individuals with rural residence (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.03–1.31), agricultural work (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.00–1.34), financial dependence (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.02–1.37), and those participating in NRCMS (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16–1.56). Participants with hunger in childhood who were 80 years or older (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65–0.98) had lower odds of frailty. NRCMS (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02–1.98) showed increased odds of childhood hunger-related frailty.

Conclusion

Exposure to hunger during childhood is linked to frailty among older adults, and age, financial support, and insurance status may mediate this relationship. Targeted interventions and policies to address frailty in older adults should be implemented.

Associations of BMI with all-cause mortality in normoglycemia, impaired fasting glucose and type 2 diabetes mellitus among an elderly Chinese population: a cohort study

Aim

To explore the associations of body mass index (BMI) and mortality among people with normal fasting glucose (NFG), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in an elderly Chinese population. 

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included 59,874 elderly people who were aged 60 and older at baseline. Data for the study came from a health check-up program in China between 2011 and 2019. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models of BMI categories by glycemic status.

Results

During the median of 5.96 years of follow-up, 7928 participants died (6457/49057 with NFG, 712/5898 with IFG and 759/4919 with T2DM). In adjusted Cox models, risk of mortality showed a decreasing trend with BMI < 18.5 kg/m², 24 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m², and BMI ≥ 28 kg/m² compared to 18.5 ≤ BMI < 24 kg/m²: HR (95% CI): 1.33 (1.18 to 1.49), 0.88 (0.83 to 0.93), and 0.90 (0.82 to 0.98), respectively, for NFG; 0.89 (0.55 to 1.46), 0.84 (0.71 to 0.99), and 0.88 (0.70 to 1.11), respectively, for IFG; and 1.42 (0.88 to 2.29), 0.75 (0.64 to 0.89), and 0.76 (0.62 to 0.93), respectively, for T2DM. There were curvilinear-shaped associations between BMI and mortality in the NFG and T2DM groups (P overall < 0.001 and P overall < 0.001, respectively; P nonlinearity < 0.001 and P nonlinearity = 0.027, respectively) and no significantly association between BMI and all-cause mortality was observed in the IFG group (P overall = 0.170).

Conclusion

High BMI compared to normal BMI was associated with decreased mortality, especially in the old populations with NFG and T2DM. Future studies are needed to explain the obesity paradox in elderly patients with T2DM.

Integrating Multimorbidity into a Whole-Body Understanding of Disease Using Spatial Genomics

Multimorbidity is characterized by multidimensional complexity emerging from interactions between multiple diseases across levels of biological (including genetic) and environmental determinants and the complex array of interactions between and within cells, tissues and organ systems. Advances in spatial genomic research have led to an unprecedented expansion in our ability to link alterations in genome folding with changes that are associated with human disease. Studying disease-associated genetic variants in the context of the spatial genome has enabled the discovery of transcriptional regulatory programmes that potentially link dysregulated genes to disease development. However, the approaches that have been used have typically been applied to uncover pathological molecular mechanisms occurring in a specific disease-relevant tissue. These forms of reductionist, targeted investigations are not appropriate for the molecular dissection of multimorbidity that typically involves contributions from multiple tissues. In this perspective, we emphasize the importance of a whole-body understanding of multimorbidity and discuss how spatial genomics, when integrated with additional omic datasets, could provide novel insights into the molecular underpinnings of multimorbidity.