Relationship between multimorbidity and composite lifestyle status in Shenzhen, China

The study aimed to understand multimorbidity among adults in a high-tech city in southern coastal China that has undergone rapid economic development and to investigate its relationship with lifestyle status.

A population-based survey was conducted among 24 community centers in the Nanshan District of Shenzhen from February to December of 2018. Participants were recruited using a stratified random sampling approach. A self-administered questionnaire on typical chronic diseases, lifestyle factors, body composition, and social demographics was used to collect data. Multimorbidity was defined as two or more chronic diseases coexisting in a single person. An algorithm on body mass index, physical activity, drinking, smoking, and sleep quality was used to calculate lifestyle scores (0-9), with higher scores predicting a healthier lifestyle.

A total of 2,905 participants were included in the analysis, with men accounting for 52.4%, and single for 25%. The prevalence of multimorbidity was 4.8%, and the mean lifestyle score was 4.79 ± 1.55. People who were old, retired, married, and had less education were more likely to have multimorbidity (all P < .05). A higher prevalence of multimorbidity was found among those who were obese, less engaged in physical activity, consumed more alcohol, and had poorer sleep quality (all p < .05). After adjusting for age, employment, education, and marital status, one unit increase in lifestyle score was associated with 0.74 times lower to have multimorbidity (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.63-0.87, p < .05).

The prevalence of multimorbidity was relatively low in economically developed Shenzhen. Keeping a healthy lifestyle was related to the lower possibility of suffering from multiple chronic diseases.