Multimorbidity of hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia and influencing factors of family function among older people of original residential communities of Guangzhou metropolitan

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BackgroundWith the global population aging at an accelerating rate, the rapid growth of the elderly population in China presents a series of health challenges, particularly in the management of chronic conditions such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and dyslipidemia. Residents of original residential communities, a unique social unit within the urbanization process, experience a higher prevalence of comorbidities related to these conditions. This underscores the urgent need for effective and comprehensive management strategies. Family function plays a critical role in the management of chronic diseases. For patients with the hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia, family support is not only crucial for improving treatment outcomes but also a key factor in enhancing overall quality of life. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the prevalence of comorbidities and family function among older people of original residential communities of Guangzhou metropolitan with hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia. MethodsA stratified random sampling method was employed to conduct a survey using the Family APGAR Questionnaire. The survey targeted patients aged 60 and above with hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in the Panyu District of Guangzhou, to explore the comorbidities, family function and its influencing factors. ResultsA total of 2,507 patients were surveyed. Among them, 426 patients (17.0%) had only one condition, 1,488 patients (59.4%) had two conditions, and 593 patients (23.7%) had all three conditions. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the types of conditions present based on variables such as gender, place of residence, exercise habits, fasting blood glucose levels, lipid profiles, number of household members with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperlipidemia, BMI, and family function score. The prevalence ratio for hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperlipidemia was 2.4: 2.4: 1. Among the comorbidity patterns, hypertension combined with dyslipidemia was the most common (1,404 cases, 56.0%), followed by patients with all three conditions (593 cases, 23.6%). No statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) were found in the distribution of the comorbidity of all three conditions between genders or across age groups. The mean total family function score was 7.63±1.83. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in the partnership, affection, and resolve sub-scores, as well as in the total family function scores, among patients with different disease patterns. Multivariate linear regression analysis identified gender (female: β = -0.148, t = -2.275, P = 0.023), place of residence (community: β = -0.155, t = -2.402, P = 0.016), and fasting blood glucose levels (abnormal glucose: β = -0.045, t = -2.465, P = 0.014) as risk factors for lower total family function scores. On the other hand, the number of family members with hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia (two or more: β = 0.174, t = 2.356, P = 0.026) and the type of disease patterns ("comorbidity of two conditions: β = 0.193, t = 2.586, P = 0.010; "comorbidity of all three conditions: β = 0.342, t = 3.248, P = 0.001) were identified as protective factors for higher total family function scores. ConclusionElderly patients with the hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in original residential community of Guangzhou metropolitan predominantly exhibit a "comorbidity of two conditions" pattern with generally good family function. Gender, place of residence, the number of patients with two conditions in the household, type of disease, and fasting blood glucose levels are key influencing factors of family function.