The urban-rural disparity in chronic comorbidities prevalence among elderly population based on Fairlie decomposition method
Objective To analyze the disparity in the prevalence of chronic comorbidities between the urban and rural elderly populations,providing scientific evidence to tailor health management strategies and policies.Methods Data from 9,252 participants aged 60 years and older,drawn from the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CH ARLS,2020),were analyzed.The urban-rural disparity in chronic comorbidities prevalence and the associated factors were examined using logistic regression analysis and Fairlie decomposition.Results Of the 9,252 participants,the rate of chronic comorbidities was 66.10%,with a higher prevalence observed in the urban population compared to the rural population(68.52%vs.64.86%,=12.421,P<0.001).Logistic regression analysis indicated that among the urban population,chronic comorbidities were less prevalent in participants who reported more than 6 hours of sleep,were employed,and assessed their health as good.Conversely,a higher prevalence was noted in individuals aged 65 and older.In the rural population,the rate of chronic comorbidities was lower in participants who reported more than 6 hours of sleep,were employed,had annual incomes exceeding RMB 10,000,assessed their health as good,and reported higher life satisfaction.Utilizing the Fairlie decomposition method,it was found that the differences in the prevalence of chronic comorbidities between urban and rural elderly populations were primarily attributable to employment status and sleep duration(P<0.05),with contribution rates of 69.22%and 6.92%,respectively.Conclusions In the context of global aging,this study examined the factors influencing the prevalence of comorbidity among elderly populations in urban and rural settings.The findings demonstrate that enhancing sleep quality,promoting employment opportunities,fostering community engagement,and encouraging family interaction may contribute to reducing the health disparities between urban and rural areas,thereby supporting healthy aging.
Chronic DiseaseComorbidityUrban-rural disparityElderly population