The prevalence of multiple non-communicable diseases among middle-aged and elderly people: the Shanghai Changfeng Study

Objective We set out to study the prevalence and combination of multiple non-communicable diseases among middle-aged and elderly people in the Shanghai Changfeng community, China. Methods A cross-sectional survey through questionnaire, physical, and laboratory examinations, color ultrasound and DXA was performed on a typical sample of 6038 residents (ages greater than 45-years-old) from the Shanghai Changfeng community between June 2009 and December 2012. Results The prevalence of chronic diseases (rating from high to low) was as follows: hypertension (55.3%), dyslipidemia (33.5%), diabetes (21.9%), obesity (12.4%), and osteoporosis (9.3%). There were sex-specific and agespecific differences in these diseases. Just less than half (40.5%) the study population suffered from two or more chronic diseases. Hypertension patients were more likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, but not osteoporosis. The most common combination of multiple diseases was hypertension with dyslipidemia (9.95%) or diabetes (6.61%). Conclusion In the Chinese middle-aged and elderly population, the most common multiple non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and obesity should be controlled to prevent cardiovascular disease.