Associations between Multimorbidity and Physical Performance in Older Chinese Adults

Bibliographic Data

ID15513360
AuthorsShanshan Yao (0000-0003-1061-4359), Shan-Shan Yao (0000-0002-2125-1242, Peking University), Xiangfei Meng (0000-0002-0857-1305, McGill University), Gui-Ying Cao (Peking University), Guiying Cao (0000-0003-3238-4195, Peking University), Zi-Ting Huang (0000-0003-1593-081X, Peking University), Zishuo Chen (Peking University), Zi-Shuo Chen (Peking University), Ling Han (0000-0002-3088-0374, Yale University), Kaipeng Wang (0000-0002-2206-4318, University of Denver), Hexuan Su (0000-0002-4357-961X, Peking University), He-Xuan Su (Peking University), Yan Luo (0000-0003-0338-0371, Peking University), Yonghua Hu (0000-0003-1631-3952, Peking University), Beibei Xu (0000-0002-0392-153X, Peking University, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue12
Pages4546-4546
Publication date2020-06-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17124546
PMID32599778
OpenAlexW3037508131
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited54

Background : Evidence on the association between physical performance and multimorbidity is scarce in Asia. This study aimed to identify multimorbidity patterns and their association with physical performance among older Chinese adults. Methods : Individuals aged ≥60 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011-2015 ( N = 10,112) were included. Physical performance was measured by maximum grip strength (kg) and average gait speed (m/s) categorized as fast (>0.8 m/s), median (>0.6-0.8 m/s), and slow (≤0.6 m/s). Multimorbidity patterns were explored using exploratory factor analysis. Generalized estimating equation was conducted. Results : Four multimorbidity patterns were identified: cardio-metabolic, respiratory, mental-sensory, and visceral-arthritic. An increased number of chronic conditions was associated with decreased normalized grip strength (NGS). Additionally, the highest quartile of factor scores for cardio-metabolic (β = -0.06; 95% Confidence interval (CI) = -0.07, -0.05), respiratory (β = -0.03; 95% CI = -0.05, -0.02), mental-sensory (β = -0.04; 95% CI = -0.05, -0.03), and visceral-arthritic (β = -0.04; 95% CI = -0.05, -0.02) patterns were associated with lower NGS compared with the lowest quartile. Participants with ≥4 chronic conditions were 2.06 times more likely to have a slow gait speed. Furthermore, the odds ratios for the highest quartile of factor scores of four patterns with slow gait speed compared with the lowest quartile ranged from 1.26-2.01. Conclusion : Multimorbidity was related to worse physical performance, and multimorbidity patterns were differentially associated with physical performance. A shift of focus from single conditions to the requirements of a complex multimorbid population was needed for research, clinical guidelines, and health-care services. Grip strength and gait speed could be targeted to routinely measure clinical performance among older adults with multimorbidity, especially mental-sensory disorders, in clinical settings

Comorbidity · Confidence interval · Gait · Multimorbidity · Odds ratio · Physical therapy · Quartile · Chronic Disease Management Strategies · Demography · Frailty in Older Adults · Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life · Medicine · Internal Medicine