The contributions of diseases to disability burden among the elderly population in China

To assess the contributions of diseases to disability burden among older persons in China.

Based on the 2006 China Disability Survey (n = 354,859), we used the attribution method and Sullivan method to obtain disability prevalence and life expectancy with disability (LED) by disease, respectively.

At disease group level, ear, eye, circulatory and musculoskeletal diseases, injury, and poisoning were the five leading causes of disability burden in terms of their contributions to disability prevalence and LED. At individual disease level, presbycusis, cataracts, cerebrovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and unclassified injuries were the five leading conditions, which accounted for 64% of disabilities and caused males and females aged 60 to have 3.04 and 3.76 years of LED, respectively.

Along with the epidemiologic transition, chronic conditions have become the predominant contributor to disability burden among elderly persons in China. And, presbycusis, cataracts, cerebrovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and unclassified injuries should be the priorities in ameliorating disability.