Gender and Socioeconomic Differences in the Prevalence and Patterns of Multimorbidity among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China

Yaqin Zhong, Hanqing Xi, Xiaojun Guo, Tiantian Wang, Yanan Wang and Jian Wang ()
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Yaqin Zhong: School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
Hanqing Xi: School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
Xiaojun Guo: School of Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
Tiantian Wang: School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
Yanan Wang: School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
Jian Wang: Dong Fureng Institute of Economic and Social Development, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-11

Abstract: Background: Multimorbidity has become a global public health concern. Knowledge about the prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity will provide essential information for public intervention and clinical management. This study aimed to examine gender and socioeconomic differences in the prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity among a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older Chinese individuals. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2018 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Latent class analysis was conducted to discriminate among the multimorbidity patterns. Multinomial logit analysis was performed to explore gender and socioeconomic factors associated with various multimorbidity patterns. Results: A total of 19,559 respondents over 45 years old were included in the study. The findings showed that 56.73% of the respondents reported multimorbidity, with significantly higher proportions among women. Four patterns, namely “ relatively healthy class ”, “ respiratory class ”, “ stomach-arthritis class ” and “ vascular class ”, were identified. The women were more likely to be in the stomach-arthritis class. Respondents with a higher SES, including higher education, urban residence, higher consumption, and medical insurance, had a higher probability of being in the vascular class. Conclusions: Significant gender and socioeconomic differences were observed in the prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity. The examination of gender and socioeconomic differences for multimorbidity patterns has great implications for clinical practice and health policy. The results may provide insights to aid in the management of multimorbidity patients and improve health resource allocation.

Keywords: multimorbidity; patterns; gender differences; socioeconomic difference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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