Socioeconomic inequities and cardiovascular disease-related disability in China: A population-based study

The prevalence of disability has changed along with aggressive economic development in China. However, socioeconomic inequalities associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related disability have not been explored. This is the first study to explore CVD-related disability among persons aged 45 years and older in China. Data were taken from the 2006 Second China National Sample Survey on Disability, which was a nationally representative, population-based survey. To derive a nationally representative sample, the survey used multistage, stratified, and cluster random sampling with probability proportional to size. We used standard weighting procedures to construct sample weights that considered the multistage, stratified, and cluster sampling survey scheme. Associations between CVD-related disability risk and socioeconomic inequality were examined using logistic regression. In this study, the weighted prevalence of CVD-related disability was 1.84 per 100 persons (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.80–1.89), and 73% of CVD-related disability consisted of a single disability, including speech, physical, and intellectual disabilities, whereas 23% of CVD-related disability consisted of multiple disabilities, that is, any combination of speech, physical, and intellectual disabilities. A higher risk of CVD-related disability was observed among rural residents than urban residents as well as among males than females. Age presented consistent increased associations with CVD-related disability. Education inequality was strongly associated with the risk of multiple disabilities. To address the challenge of CVD-related disability in China, the government should adjust its strategies for health care systems to prevent disability. The widening discrepancy between urban and rural areas indicates that the most important priorities for disability prevention in China are to reinforce health promotion in the working age population and to improve health services in rural communities.