Prevalence and Patterns of Multimorbidity Among Adults Aged 18 Years and Older — China, 2018

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Multimorbidity is becoming more common and poses a major challenge to healthcare systems. However, the prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity among Chinese adults aged ≥18 years are largely unknown. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? This study found that 46.5% of Chinese adults had multimorbidity in 2018. And the prevalence of multimorbidity prevalence is increased with age. Prevalence of multimorbidity was higher among men, Han Chinese, adults with lower educational level, and those with lower household income. The most common multimorbidity pattern is a combination of three chronic conditions, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICES? As multimorbidity diversifies characteristics and patterns, guideline development, clinical management, and public intervention should consider the complexity of multimorbidity.