Prevalence and associated factors of physical-psychological-cognitive multimorbidity in Chinese community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study

TL;DR

This study finds that 17.2% of older adults in China have physical, psychological, and cognitive health issues together, with factors like long-term medication and poor quality of life playing a role.

Contribution

The study identifies key predictors of physical-psychological-cognitive multimorbidity in older Chinese adults using a cross-sectional survey.

Findings

The prevalence of PPC multimorbidity was 17.2% among 437 participants.

Long-term medication use and higher multimorbidity burden were strong predictors of PPC status.

Social frailty and lower quality of life (EQ-5D scores) were also significant factors.

Abstract

The rising prevalence of physical-psychological-cognitive (PPC) multimorbidity among older adults poses significant challenges. Understanding its prevalence and associated risk factors is crucial for the development of targeted and effective care strategies.

This cross-sectional study utilized convenience sampling to survey older adults residing in two cities in Sichuan Province and Chongqing, Southwest China, between September 2024 and December 2024. Data were collected using the General Information Questionnaire, EQ-5D-5L, HALFT scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the 8-item Ascertain Dementia tool. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of PPC multimorbidity.

A total of 437 participants were included, with 75 having PPC multimorbidity and 362 without, resulting in a prevalence of PPC of 17.2%. Social frailty was observed in 17.8%. Multivariate logistic regression identified long-term medication use (OR = 3.24, 95% CI [1.28–8.21]), higher multimorbidity burden (OR = 7.31, 95% CI [3.27–16.36]), social frailty (OR = 3.49, 95% CI [174–7.01]), and lower EQ-5D scores (OR = 0.07, 95% CI [0.02–0.26]) as significant predictors of PPC status (all p < 0.05).

This study highlights the burden of PPC multimorbidity in older adults in China, with key factors including long-term medication use, advanced multimorbidity, social frailty, and poor quality of life. It calls for a patient-centered care approach that addresses these issues, with future research focusing on larger, diverse samples to guide targeted interventions.

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