Association between sensory impairment and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among older Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Abstract Background Sensory impairments and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) are prevalent age-related conditions that significantly impact the health of older adults. Understanding whether sensory impairments are risk factors for CMM is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies a...

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Main Authors: Jing Xi, Kewen Niu, Jiaqi Xu, Yangyang Lu, Xinjie Li, Hongyan Meng, Chun Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06140-z
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author Jing Xi
Kewen Niu
Jiaqi Xu
Yangyang Lu
Xinjie Li
Hongyan Meng
Chun Li
author_facet Jing Xi
Kewen Niu
Jiaqi Xu
Yangyang Lu
Xinjie Li
Hongyan Meng
Chun Li
author_sort Jing Xi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Sensory impairments and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) are prevalent age-related conditions that significantly impact the health of older adults. Understanding whether sensory impairments are risk factors for CMM is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies and public health policies. This study aimed to investigate the associations between sensory impairments and CMM among older Chinese adults. Methods Data were obtained from the 2018 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Participants aged 60 years and above were included. Sensory impairments and CMM were assessed with self-reporting methods. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between sensory impairments and CMM. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the interactions between the sensory impairment–CMM association and sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors. Results A total of 8334 participants were included in the analysis. After adjusting for potential covariates, no significant association was found between single sensory impairment and CMM. However, dual sensory impairment (DSI) was significantly associated with an increased risk of CMM (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.862, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.387-2.500). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant interactions between sensory impairments and CMM across sociodemographic, lifestyle, or psychological variables. Conclusions This study highlights a significant association between DSI and CMM in older adults. The results advocate for the incorporation of sensory impairment assessments into the clinical assessment of CMM risk and the integration of intervention strategies such as sensory rehabilitation to enhance vision and hearing function in the management of CMM. We also recommend governments and health agencies to increase resource allocation towards hearing and vision healthcare services for older adults with CMM.
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spelling doaj-art-e5e5a1e39c8b4fbda8e3d21293da3dec2025-08-20T04:03:01ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-07-012511910.1186/s12877-025-06140-zAssociation between sensory impairment and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among older Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal StudyJing Xi0Kewen Niu1Jiaqi Xu2Yangyang Lu3Xinjie Li4Hongyan Meng5Chun Li6Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySchool of Nursing, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow UniversitySchool of Nursing, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow UniversitySchool of Nursing, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow UniversitySchool of Nursing, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityAbstract Background Sensory impairments and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) are prevalent age-related conditions that significantly impact the health of older adults. Understanding whether sensory impairments are risk factors for CMM is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies and public health policies. This study aimed to investigate the associations between sensory impairments and CMM among older Chinese adults. Methods Data were obtained from the 2018 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Participants aged 60 years and above were included. Sensory impairments and CMM were assessed with self-reporting methods. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between sensory impairments and CMM. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the interactions between the sensory impairment–CMM association and sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors. Results A total of 8334 participants were included in the analysis. After adjusting for potential covariates, no significant association was found between single sensory impairment and CMM. However, dual sensory impairment (DSI) was significantly associated with an increased risk of CMM (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.862, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.387-2.500). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant interactions between sensory impairments and CMM across sociodemographic, lifestyle, or psychological variables. Conclusions This study highlights a significant association between DSI and CMM in older adults. The results advocate for the incorporation of sensory impairment assessments into the clinical assessment of CMM risk and the integration of intervention strategies such as sensory rehabilitation to enhance vision and hearing function in the management of CMM. We also recommend governments and health agencies to increase resource allocation towards hearing and vision healthcare services for older adults with CMM.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06140-zDual sensory impairmentCardiometabolic diseaseMultimorbidityOlder adultsChina
spellingShingle Jing Xi
Kewen Niu
Jiaqi Xu
Yangyang Lu
Xinjie Li
Hongyan Meng
Chun Li
Association between sensory impairment and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among older Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
BMC Geriatrics
Dual sensory impairment
Cardiometabolic disease
Multimorbidity
Older adults
China
title Association between sensory impairment and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among older Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
title_full Association between sensory impairment and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among older Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
title_fullStr Association between sensory impairment and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among older Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
title_full_unstemmed Association between sensory impairment and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among older Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
title_short Association between sensory impairment and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among older Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
title_sort association between sensory impairment and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among older chinese adults a cross sectional study based on the china health and retirement longitudinal study
topic Dual sensory impairment
Cardiometabolic disease
Multimorbidity
Older adults
China
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06140-z
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