AUTHOR=Zeng Hongji , Miao Chen , Wang Rui , Zhao Weijia , Wang Wenjuan , Liu Yahui , Wei Shufan , Liu Anqi , Jia Huibing , Li Guoxin , Zhou Junge , Chen Xuejiao , Tian Qingfeng 

TITLE=Influence of comorbidity of chronic diseases on basic activities of daily living among older adults in China: a propensity score-matched study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1292289

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1292289

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Rationale With the accelerating process of population aging, comorbidity of chronic disease (CCD) has become a major public health problem that threatens the health of the elderly.
Objective This study aimed to assess whether CCD is associated with Basic activities of daily living (BADL) and explore the factors influencing BADL in the elderly.
Method A cross-sectional community health survey with stratified random sampling among elderly residents (≥60 years old) was conducted in 2022. A questionnaire was used to collect information on BADL, chronic diseases, and other relevant aspects. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match the elderly with and without CCD. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the factors influencing BADL. PSM was used to match participants with single chronic disease (SCD) versus CCD.
Result Among the 47720 participants, those with CCD showed a higher prevalence of BADL disability (13.07%) than those with no CCD (6.33%) and SCD (7.39%). After adjusting for potential confounders with PSM, 6513 pairs of cases with and without CCD were matched.Univariate analysis found that the elderly with CCD had a significantly higher prevalence of BADL disability (13.07%, 851/6513) than those without CCD (9.83%, 640/6513, P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that CCD was a risk factor for BADL in the elderly people [OR=1.496, 95% CI: (1.393-1.750), P<0.001]. In addition, age, educational level, alcohol intake, social interaction, annual physical examination, retirement benefits, depression, weekly amount of exercise, and years of exercise were related to BADL disability (P<0.05). PSM matching was performed on participants with CCD versus SCD and showed that elderly people with CCD had a significantly higher prevalence of BADL disability (13.07%, 851/6513) than those with SCD (11.39%, 742/6513, P < 0.05).
Conclusion Elderly people with CCD are at a higher risk of BADL disability than their counterparts with no CCD or SCD. Therefore, we advocate paying attention to and taking measures to improve the health and quality of life of these individuals.