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.
Keywords: Cardiometabolic diseases; Cardiometabolic multimorbidity; Cohort study; Mortality.
Copyright © 2024 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.