A recent study conducted by researchers at Peking University and the Chinese PLA General Hospital has revealed that multimorbidity—the presence of multiple chronic diseases—significantly increases the risk of severe falls and mortality among middle-aged and older adults in China. The findings, published in Health Data Science, identify a particularly vulnerable group: individuals suffering from both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal conditions, referred to as “osteo-cardiovascular fallers.”
Falls are a leading cause of injury and death among aging populations worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like China. While previous studies have established a link between chronic diseases and fall risk, this research is among the first to examine how different patterns of multimorbidity influence the progression of fall severity over time, from mild falls to severe injuries and even death.
The study analyzed data from 14,244 individuals aged 45 and older who participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Using advanced statistical models, the researchers tracked nearly 11,000 transitions between different fall states over a seven-year period. They identified four major multimorbidity patterns: osteo-cardiovascular, pulmonary-digestive-rheumatic, metabolic-cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric-sensory.
Among these groups, the osteo-cardiovascular category exhibited the highest risk of progressing from no falls to severe falls or death. Individuals in this category were found to have a 2.09 times higher risk of mortality and a 1.67 times higher likelihood of experiencing severe falls compared to healthier participants. Additionally, their chances of recovering from a fall—such as improving from severe to mild falls—were significantly lower than those in other groups.
Dr. Lihai Zhang, Chief Physician at the Chinese PLA General Hospital and co-author of the study, emphasized the importance of targeted healthcare strategies. “Our findings underscore the need for integrated care approaches that address both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal conditions simultaneously. This may help prevent long-term deterioration and improve patient outcomes,” he stated.
Building on these insights, the research team aims to identify additional fall-related risk factors and develop targeted prevention strategies for high-risk groups in the future.
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