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Open Access 01-12-2023 | Research article

Exploring multimorbidity profiles in middle-aged inpatients: a network-based comparative study of China and the United Kingdom

Authors: Yining Bao, Pengyi Lu, Mengjie Wang, Xueli Zhang, Aowei Song, Xiaoyun Gu, Ting Ma, Shu Su, Lin Wang, Xianwen Shang, Zhuoting Zhu, Yuhang Zhai, Mingguang He, Zengbin Li, Hanting Liu, Christopher K. Fairley, Jiangcun Yang, Lei Zhang

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2023

Abstract

Background

Multimorbidity is better prevented in younger ages than in older ages. This study aims to identify the differences in comorbidity patterns in middle-aged inpatients from China and the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods

We utilized 184,133 and 180,497 baseline hospitalization records in middle-aged populations (40–59 years) from Shaanxi, China, and UK Biobank. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and P values for 43,110 unique comorbidity patterns in Chinese inpatients and 21,026 unique comorbidity patterns in UK inpatients. We included the statistically significant (P values adjusted by Bonferroni correction) and common comorbidity patterns (the pattern with prevalence > 1/10,000 in each dataset) and employed network analysis to construct multimorbidity networks and compare feature differences in multimorbidity networks for Chinese and UK inpatients, respectively. We defined hub diseases as diseases having the top 10 highest number of unique comorbidity patterns in the multimorbidity network.

Results

We reported that 57.12% of Chinese inpatients had multimorbidity, substantially higher than 30.39% of UK inpatients. The complete multimorbidity network for Chinese inpatients consisted of 1367 comorbidities of 341 diseases and was 2.93 × more complex than that of 467 comorbidities of 215 diseases in the UK. In males, the complexity of the multimorbidity network in China was 2.69 × more than their UK counterparts, while the ratio was 2.63 × in females. Comorbidities associated with hub diseases represented 68.26% of comorbidity frequencies in the complete multimorbidity network in Chinese inpatients and 55.61% in UK inpatients. Essential hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and gastritis and duodenitis were the hub diseases in both populations. The Chinese inpatients consistently demonstrated a higher frequency of comorbidities related to circulatory and endocrine/nutritional/metabolic diseases. In the UK, aside from these comorbidities, comorbidities related to digestive and genitourinary diseases were also prevalent, particularly the latter among female inpatients.

Conclusions

Chinese inpatients exhibit higher multimorbidity prevalence and more complex networks compared to their UK counterparts. Multimorbidity with circulatory and endocrine/nutritional/metabolic diseases among both Chinese and UK inpatients necessitates tailored surveillance, prevention, and intervention approaches. Targeted interventions for digestive and genitourinary diseases are warranted for the UK.

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Title: Exploring multimorbidity profiles in middle-aged inpatients: a network-based comparative study of China and the United Kingdom
Authors: Yining Bao
Pengyi Lu
Mengjie Wang
Xueli Zhang
Aowei Song
Xiaoyun Gu
Ting Ma
Shu Su
Lin Wang
Xianwen Shang
Zhuoting Zhu
Yuhang Zhai
Mingguang He
Zengbin Li
Hanting Liu
Christopher K. Fairley
Jiangcun Yang
Lei Zhang
Publication date: 01-12-2023
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03204-y

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Exploring multimorbidity profiles in middle-aged inpatients: a network-based comparative study of China and the United Kingdom

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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