Study of the prevalence and disease burden of chronic disease in the elderly in China

Abstract

Objective: To understand the prevalence and disease burden of major chronic diseases in the elderly in China and provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of chronic diseases and for the rational allocation of health resources. Methods: We analyzed the prevalence of chronic diseases in residents aged ≥60 years in China by using national and provincial surveillance data of chronic diseases and related risk factors in China. We conducted the analysis on the burden of chronic diseases in the elderly in China by using the data of global burden of disease. Results: The prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia were 58.3%, 19.4% and 10.5% respectively in residents aged ≥60 years in China. Up to 75.8% of the residents aged ≥60 years had at least one chronic disease. The prevalence rate was higher in women than in men, higher in urban area than in rural area. With the increase of age, the prevalence rate of chronic diseases also increased. The top three chronic diseases with heavy disease burden in residents aged ≥70 years were stroke, myocardial infarction, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Conclusion: The prevalence of major chronic diseases in the elderly is high with three quarters of the elderly suffering from at least one chronic disease, and the burden of chronic diseases is increasing.