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Background: Though many randomized control trials had examined the effectiveness and safety of taking insulin therapy with or without metformin, there are limited real-world data, especially among Chinese type 2 diabetes patients initiating basal insulin (BI) with uncontrolled hyperglycemia by oral agents. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness and safety of BI therapy combined with or without metformin in a real-world national cohort study., Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who initiated BI treatment due to uncontrolled hyperglycemia (HbA1c≥7 %) by oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) were recruited in Chinese real-world settings between 2011 and 2013. A total of 12,358 patients initiated BI without bolus insulin and completed a 6-month follow-up were selected as the study population and divided into BI with metformin or BI without metformin group based on whether metformin was simultaneously prescribed or not at baseline. Propensity score adjustment was used to balance baseline covariates between two groups. A sub-analysis was also conducted among 8,086 patients who kept baseline treatment regimen during the follow-up. Outcomes were HbA1c, hypoglycemia, weight gain and insulin dose in two groups., Results: 53.6 % (6,621 out of 12,358) patients initiated BI therapy concomitant with metformin. After propensity score adjustment, multivariate regression analysis controlled with number of OADs, total insulin dose, physical activity and diet consumption showed that BI with metformin group had a slightly higher control rate of HbA1c <7.0 % (39.9 % vs. 36.4 %, P = 0.0011) at 6-month follow-up, and lower dose increment from baseline to 6-month (0.0064 vs. 0.0068 U/day/kg, P = 0.0035). The sub-analysis with patients remained at same BI therapy further showed that BI with metformin group had higher HbA1c control rate (47.9 % vs. 41.9 %, P = 0.0001), less weight gain (-0.12 vs. 0.15 kg P = 0.0013), and lower dose increment during 6-month follow-up (0.0033 vs. 0.0037 U/day/kg, P = 0.0073) when compared with BI without metformin group., Conclusions: In alliance with current guidelines, the real-world findings also support the insulin initiation together with metformin. Continuous patients' education and clinicians training are needed to improve the use of metformin when initiating BI treatment., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Preventing chronic disease is important in health policy in countries with significantly ageing populations. This study aims to examine the prevalence of chronic disease multimorbidity and its association with physical activity and sleep duration; and to understand whether physical activity modifies associations between sleep duration and multimorbidity., Methods: We utilized longitudinal data of a nationally-representative sample from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (in year 2011 and 2015; N = 5321; 54.7% female; age ≥ 45 years old). Fourteen chronic diseases were used to measure multimorbidity (ten self-reported, and four by blood test). Participants were grouped into high, moderate, and low level based on self-reported frequencies and durations of physical activity with different intensities for at least 10 min at a time in a usual week. Poor and good sleepers were categorized according to average hours of actual sleep at each night during the past month. Panel data method of random-effects logistic regression model was applied to estimate the association of physical activity and sleep with multimorbidity, adjusting for social-demographic and behavioural confounders., Results: From 2011 to 2015, the prevalence of multimorbidity increased from 52.2 to 62.8%. In 2015, the proportion of participants engaging in high, moderate, and low level of physical activity was 30.3, 24.4 and 45.3%, respectively, and 63.6% of adults had good sleep. For both genders, compared with good sleep, poor sleep was associated with higher odds of multimorbidity (OR = 1.527, 95% CI: 1.277, 1.825). Compared to the high-level group, participants with a low level of physical activity were significantly more likely to have multimorbidity (OR = 1.457, 95% CI: 1.277, 1.825), but associations were stronger among women. The relative excess risk due to interaction between poor sleep and moderate or low physical activity was positive but non-significant on multimorbidity., Conclusions: The burden of multimorbidity was high in China. Low physical activity and poor sleep was independently and significantly associated with a higher likelihood of multimorbidity in women and both genders, separately. Physical activity could modify the association between sleep and multimorbidity.

Background: Multimorbidity has emerged as a significant challenge for healthcare systems globally. This study aims to examine the associations between key determinants of lifestyle behavior and various multimorbidity patterns. Methods: In a cross-sectional sample of older adults (aged 60–79) from the Fifth National Physical Fitness Surveillance in Shanghai, latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify multimorbidity patterns among 9 chronic diseases. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to analyze the associations between sedentary time, sleep duration, physical exercise, and the different multimorbidity patterns. Weighted analysis was performed to appropriately account for complex sampling designs and provide more robust results. Results: Among 13,465 study participants (unweighted mean age 69.3 years; weighted mean age 67.4 years, 50.7% female), the overall prevalence of multimorbidity was 40.9%–42.3%. Four latent classes among the older adults were identified, with the relatively healthy class (63.6%–64.6%) had an average of less than 1 chronic disease. The other 3 classes, namely the metabolic-cardiovascular-joint-digestive-respiratory disease class (2.9%–3.0%), the metabolic-cardiovascular disease class (14.5%–15.5%), and the joint-digestive-respiratory disease class (17.9%–18.0%), each had an average of more than 2 chronic diseases, representing different multimorbidity patterns. Prolonged sedentary time (> 3 h/day) increased the odds of belonging to the metabolic-cardiovascular-joint-digestive-respiratory disease class by 56%–57% (unweighted odds ratio [OR] 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27–1.94; weighted OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.36–1.80), the metabolic-cardiovascular disease class by 38% (unweighted OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.25–1.53; weighted OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.29–1.48), and the joint-digestive-respiratory disease class by 30%–32% (unweighted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.19–1.45; weighted OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.22–1.38). Shorter sleep duration (< 7 h/day) also increased the odds of membership in the metabolic-cardiovascular disease class by 48%–49% (unweighted OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.35–1.65; weighted OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.38–1.58), the metabolic-cardiovascular-joint-digestive-respiratory disease class by 37%–47% (unweighted OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.19–1.80; weighted OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.19–1.58), and the joint-digestive-respiratory disease class by 41%–42% (unweighted OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.29–1.56; weighted OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.32–1.50). Each additional daily hour of low-intensity physical exercise (LIPE) reduced the odds of membership in the metabolic-cardiovascular-joint-digestive-respiratory disease class by 24%–25% (unweighted OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.64–0.90; weighted OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.66–0.84), the joint-digestive-respiratory disease class by 20%–21% (unweighted OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.73–0.86; weighted OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.76–0.85), and the metabolic-cardiovascular disease class by 11%–12% (unweighted OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81–0.95; weighted OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85–0.94). Compared to LIPE, high-intensity physical exercise (HIPE) showed a significant advantage only in reducing the odds of the metabolic-cardiovascular disease class by 18%–23% (unweighted OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62–0.97; weighted OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71–0.95). Conclusions: Over 40% of older adults in Shanghai, China, suffer from multimorbidity. Prolonged sedentary behavior and shorter sleep duration were associated with membership in the metabolic-cardiovascular-joint-digestive-respiratory disease class, the metabolic-cardiovascular disease class, and the joint-digestive-respiratory disease class. Physical exercise showed varying degrees of protection against these 3 multimorbidity patterns, with special attention warranted for LIPE. Identifying the relationship between determinants of lifestyle behavior and patterns of multimorbidity can help develop more targeted prevention and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of gender disparities in physical, mental, and cognitive disorders among elderly hypertensive individuals in rural areas remains unclear. This study evaluates these disparities and the factors contributing to multimorbidity in this demographic. Methods: A face-to-face survey was conducted from July 1 to August 31, 2023, involving the hypertensive population registered with the National Basic Public Health Service Program in Jia County. Physical disorder was defined as having one or more self-reported chronic conditions other than hypertension. Participants experiencing anxiety or depression were as having a psychological disorder. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression symptomatology, and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7). Cognitive disorders were assessed using the Brief Mental Status Examination Scale (MMSE). Multifactorial logistic regression models were used to analyze factors affecting different disorder combinations in both genders. The net difference in multimorbidity prevalence between genders was determined using the propensity score matching (PSM). Results: Out of 18,447 hypertensive individuals aged 65 years and above (42.28% men), the prevalence of multimorbidity was 30.64% in men and 38.67% in women. Outcomes included seven categories: physical disorders, psychological disorders, cognitive disorders, and four different combinations of these disorders. The primary outcome was the presence of two or more disorders. The prevalence of physical, psychological, and cognitive disorders and their four combinations were higher in women than in men; Key factors influencing multimorbidity risk included subjective health status, illness duration, medication history, blood pressure control, and lifestyle behaviors in both men and women. Post-PSM analysis revealed that women had a 6.74% higher multimorbidity prevalence than men. Conclusions: Physical, psychological, and cognitive disorders, along with their various multimorbid combinations, significantly impact the elderly hypertensive population. Prioritizing a healthy lifestyle is essential to mitigate multimorbidity risks. Considering that the prevalence of multimorbidity is higher in women than in men with hypertension, sufficient sleep, maintaining a healthy waist circumference, and medication adherence are vital for managing blood pressure and reducing multimorbidity risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in China is over 10%, affecting around 114 million people. Despite the inclusion of T2DM in the National Basic Public Health Service Program (NBPHSP), most people with T2DM experience challenges in achieving optimal management targets. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators of diabetes management from the perspectives of primary health care (PHC) service providers and recipients. Methods: This mixed-methods study was conducted in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China. A quantitative PHC facility assessment survey was conducted in all administrative districts and qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted in one district to government officials, medical staff, patients with T2DM, and their family members. Interviews were thematically analyzed, and all findings were synthesized using Michie's COM-B theory. Results: A total of 197 village/community level PHC facilities and 66 township/street level PHC facilities answered the survey, and 42 in-depth interviews were conducted. The key facilitators stemmed from the NBPHSP policy, which standardized the basic infrastructure, medical equipment, and medication for the PHC facilities, provided training on NCD prevention and control, and compensated the PHC workers. However, we identified a detrimental cycle among PHC providers characterized by inadequate capacity, overwhelming workloads, insufficient income, limited career development opportunities, and challenges in attracting young talents. Although patients were covered by the national medical insurance schemes, they experienced capability constraints primarily driven by low education levels, advanced age, low health literacy, and a proliferation of misinformation. These factors influenced patients' motivation to be actively engaged in care and contributed to inertia to intensify treatment and achieve their clinical management goals. Conclusion: This study identifies several major facilitators and barriers from the perspectives of both PHC providers and patients with T2DM. Our findings suggest there are substantial opportunities to strengthen the NBPHSP, including improving the capacity and the income level of the PHC providers, attracting and retaining skilled health workers in rural areas, supporting patients to improve their health literacy and take a more active role in their health care, and improving access to high-quality care through digital health approaches. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (record NCT02726100, 03/22/2016). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multimorbidity and sleep disorder possess high incidence rates in the middle-aged and older people populations, posing a significant threat to quality of life and physical and mental health. However, investigators have previously only analysed the unidirectional association between sleep status and multimorbidity. We aimed to investigate bidirectional associations between sleep quality or duration and multimorbidity in middle-aged and older Chinese adults from a longitudinal perspective. Method: We enrolled a total of 9823 participants 45 years and older from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study from 2015 to 2018 in our study. Multimorbidity was defined as two or more coexisting chronic diseases in the same individual based on 14 self-reported disease questions. Sleep quality was classified as "good" (restless < 1 day per week) and "poor" (restless ≥ 1 days per week); and sleep duration was divided into short (< 6 h), medium (6–9 h), and long (> 9 h). The bidirectional association between multimorbidity and sleep condition was examined using multivariate logistic regression models with adjustments for covariates. Results: Individuals with poor sleep quality showed a significantly higher prevalence of multimorbidity in the future. The adjusted OR (95% CI) values of individuals with poor sleep quality with respect to developing two diseases, three diseases, and ≥ 4 diseases were 1.39 (1.19, 1.63), 1.56 (1.23, 2.03), and 2.36 (1.68, 3.33), respectively. In addition, individuals with multimorbidity exhibited a significantly higher risk of poor sleep quality in the future. Short sleep duration led to multimorbidity in the future (OR = 1.49; 95 CI%, 1.37–1.63), while multimorbidity contributed to short sleep duration (< 6 h) in the future (OR = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.27–1.51) after full adjustment. Conclusions: There was a bidirectional association between sleep quality or short sleep duration and multimorbidity in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. We recommend that greater attention be given to clinical management among adults with sleep disorders or physical multimorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multimorbidity, body pain, sleep disturbance, and depression are major clinical and public health challenges. This paper aimed to examine the associations of multimorbidity with body pain, sleep duration, and depression; and whether the associations varied by socioeconomic status. Methods: Data was derived from four waves of the nationally representative China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), including participants aged 45 years and older in 2011. 12 physical non-communicable diseases and 1 mental chronic disease were used to measure multimorbidity. Educational attainment and annual per-capita household consumption expenditure were employed as proxies for socioeconomic status. Results: Of the 16,931 participants aged 45 + years old, the proportion of people with multimorbidity was 37.87% at baseline. The number of multimorbidity increased with older age and higher socioeconomic status. Multimorbidity was associated with more body pain (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.45–1.61), and decreased sleep duration (β = -0.26, 95% CI = -0.36–-0.15). Furthermore, multimorbidity was associated with increased depression risks (odds ratio (OR) = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.44–1.64, adjusted for sociodemographic variables), with the mediating effects of the number of body pain and sleep duration. The associations between multimorbidity and depression persisted among different socioeconomic groups. Conclusions: Multimorbidity was associated with increased body pain, decreased sleep duration, and further led to increased depression risks. It is necessary to pay attention to the multimorbidity of middle-aged and older adults, relieve their body pain, guarantee sufficient sleep, so as to reduce depression risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies proved the effect of long-term exposure to air pollution or physical activity (PA) on the risk of systemic inflammation-induced multimorbidity (SIIM), while the evidence regarding their joint effects was rare, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, we aimed to examine the extent of interaction or joint relations of PA and air pollution with SIIM. Methods: This study included 72,172 participants from China Multi-Ethnic Cohort.The average concentrations of ambient particulate matter pollutants (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) were estimated using satellite-based random forest models. Self-reported information on a range of physical activities related to occupation, housework, commuting, and leisure activities was collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. A total of 11 chronic inflammatory systemic diseases were assessed based on self-reported lifetime diagnosis or medical examinations. SIIM was defined as having ≥ 2 chronic diseases related to systemic inflammation. Logistic regression models were used to assess the complex associations of air pollution particulate matter and PA with SIIM. Results: We found positive associations between long-term air pollution particulates exposure and SIIM, with odds ratios (95%CI) of 1.07 (1.03 to 1.11), 1.18 (1.13 to 1.24), and 1.08 (1.05 to 1.12) per 10 µg/m3 increase in PM1, PM2.5, and PM10. No significant multiplicative interaction was found between ambient air pollutant exposure and PA on SIIM, whereas negative additive interaction was observed between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and PA on SIIM. The positive associations between low volume PA and SIIM were stronger among those exposed to high-level air pollution particulates. Compared with individuals engaged in high volume PA and exposed to low-level ambient air pollutants, those engaged in low volume PA and exposed to high-level ambient air pollutants had a higher risk of SIIM (OR = 1.49 in PM1 exposure, OR = 1.84 in PM2.5 exposure, OR = 1.19 in PM10 exposure). Conclusions: Long-term (3 years average) exposure to PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 was associated with an increased risk of SIIM. The associations were modified by PA, highlighting PA’s importance in reducing SIIM for all people, especially those living in high-level air pollution regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep problems are frequent in older adults and are associated with chronic diseases. However, the association with multimorbidity patterns is still unknown. Considering the negative impacts that multimorbidity patterns can have on older adults' life, knowledge of this association can help in the screening and early identification of older adults with sleep problems. The objective was to verify the association between sleep problems and multimorbidity patterns in older Brazilian adults. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with data from 22,728 community-dwelling older adults from the 2019 National Health Survey. The exposure variable was self-reported sleep problems (yes/no). The study outcomes were: multimorbidity patterns, analyzed by self-report of the coexistence of two or more chronic diseases with similar clinical characteristics: (1) cardiopulmonary; (2) vascular-metabolic; (3) musculoskeletal; (4) coexisting patterns. Results: Older adults with sleep problems had 1.34 (95%CI: 1.21; 1.48), 1.62 (95%CI: 1.15; 2.28), 1.64 (95%CI: 1.39; 1.93), and 1.88 (95%CI: 1.52; 2.33) greater odds of presenting vascular-metabolic, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, and coexisting patterns, respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that public health programs aimed at preventing sleep problems in older adults are essential to reduce possible adverse health outcomes, including multimorbidity patterns and their negative consequences for older adults' health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multimorbidity of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasingly prevalent among older adults around the world, leading a higher risk of household catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). As current powerful evidence was insufficient, we aimed to estimate the association between multimorbidity of NCDs and the risk of CHE in China. Methods: We designed a cohort study using data investigated in 2011–2018 from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, which is a nationally-representative study covering 150 counties of 28 provinces in China. We used mean ± standard deviation (SD) and frequencies and percentages to describe baseline characteristics. Person χ2 test was employed to compare the differences of baseline characteristics between households with and without multimorbidity. Lorenz curve and concentration index were used to measure the socioeconomic inequalities of CHE incidence. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between multimorbidity and CHE. Results: Among 17,708 participants, 17,182 individuals were included for the descriptive analysis of the prevalence of multimorbidity in 2011, and 13,299 individuals (8029 households) met inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis with a median of 83 (interquartile range: 25–84) person-months of follow-up. 45.1% (7752/17,182) individuals and 56.9% (4571/8029) households had multimorbidity at baseline. Participants with higher family economic level (aOR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86–0.97) had lower multimorbidity prevalence than those with lowest family economic level. 82.1% of participants with multimorbidity did not make use of outpatient care. The CHE incidence was more concentrated among participants with higher socioeconomic status (SES) with a concentration index of 0.059. The risk of CHE was 19% (aHR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.16–1.22) higher for each additional NCD. Conclusions: Approximately half of middle-aged and older adults in China had multimorbidity, causing a 19% higher risk of CHE for each additional NCD. Early interventions for preventing multimorbidity among people with low SES could be intensified to protect older adults from financial hardship. In addition, concerted efforts are needed to increase patients' rational healthcare utilization and strengthen current medical security for people with high SES to reduce economic disparities in CHE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trauma in the elderly is gradually growing more prevalent as the aging population increases over time. The purpose of this study is to assess hospitalization costs of the elderly trauma population and analyze the association between those costs and the features of the elderly trauma population. Methods: In a retrospective analysis, data on trauma patients over 65 who were admitted to the hospital for the first time due to trauma between January 2017 and March 2022 was collected from a tertiary comprehensive hospital in Baotou. We calculated and analyzed the hospitalization cost components. According to various therapeutic approaches, trauma patients were divided into two subgroups: non-surgical patients (1320 cases) and surgical patients (387 cases). Quantile regression was used to evaluate the relationship between trauma patients and hospitalization costs. Results: This study comprised 1707 trauma patients in total. Mean total hospitalization costs per patient were ¥20,741. Patients with transportation accidents incurred the highest expenditures among those with external causes of trauma, with a mean hospitalization cost of ¥24,918, followed by patients with falls at ¥19,809 on average. Hospitalization costs were dominated by medicine costs (¥7,182 per capita). According to the quantile regression results, all trauma patients' hospitalization costs were considerably increased by length of stay, surgery, the injury severity score (16–24), multimorbidity, thorax injury, and blood transfusion. For non-surgical patients, length of stay, multimorbidity, and the injury severity score (16–24) were all substantially linked to higher hospitalization costs. For surgical patients, length of stay, injury severity score (16–24), and hip and thigh injuries were significantly associated with greater hospitalization costs. Conclusions: Using quantile regression to identify factors associated with hospitalization costs could be helpful for addressing the burden of injury in the elderly population. Policymakers may find these findings to be insightful in lowering hospitalization costs related to injury in the elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Many of these diseases have modifiable risk factors, including physical activity and sleep, and may be preventable. This study investigated independent associations of physical activity and sleep with eight common chronic illnesses.Methods: Data were from waves 1, 3 and 5 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (n = 5,680). Inverse probability weighted general estimating equations were used to examine longitudinal lifetime prevalence and cumulative incidence of self-reported conditions.Results: Sleep problems were significantly associated with increased odds of incident and prevalent arthritis and angina. Additionally sleep problems were associated with higher odds of lifetime prevalence of hypertension and diabetes. Physical activity was negatively associated incident osteoporosis and respiratory diseases and negatively associated with lifetime prevalence of hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.Conclusions: Worse sleep quality and lower physical activity were associated with higher odds of chronic diseases. Interventions to improve sleep and physical activity may improve health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With economic development, aging of the population, improved insurance coverage, and the absence of a formal referral system, bypassing primary healthcare facilities appear to have become more common. Chinese patients tend to visit the secondary or tertiary healthcare facilities directly leading to overcrowding at the higher-level facilities. This study attempts to analyze the factors associated with bypassing primary care facilities among patients of age 45 years or older in China.Methods: Random effects logistic models were used to examine bypassing of primary health facilities among rural-urban patients. Data from 2011 to 2015 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were used.Results: Two in five older patients in China bypass primary health centers (PHC) to access care from higher-tier facilities. Urban patients were nearly twice as likely as rural patients to bypass PHC. Regardless of rural-urban residence, our analysis found that a longer travel time to primary facilities compared to higher-tier facilities increases the likelihood of bypassing. Patients with higher educational attainment were more likely to bypass PHCs. In rural areas, patients who reported their health as poor or those who experienced a recent hospitalization had a higher probability of bypassing PHC. In urban areas, older adults (age 65 years or older) were more likely to bypass PHC than the younger group. Patients with chronic conditions like diabetes also had a higher probability of bypassing.Conclusions: The findings indicate the importance of strengthening the PHCs in China to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the health system. Significantly lower out-of-pocket costs at the PHC compared to costs at the higher tiers had little or no impact on increasing the likelihood of utilizing the PHCs. Improving service quality, providing comprehensive person-centered care, focusing on family health care needs, and providing critical preventive services will help increase utilization of PHCs as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of the health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]