The association between mental-physical multimorbidity and disability, work productivity, and social participation in China: a panel data analysis

BMC Public Health

Rifat Atun¹  Barbara McPake²  Allissa Desloge²  Emily Susannah Grace Hulse²  Tianxin Pan²  John Tayu Lee³  Yang Zhao⁴  Stewart W. Mercer⁵ 

[1]Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA

[2]Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, 3010, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

[3]Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, 3010, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

[4]Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK

[5]The George Institute for Global Health at Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China

[6]WHO Collaborating Centre on Implementation Research for Prevention & Control of NCDs, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

[7]Usher Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

关键词: Multimorbidity;    Physical conditions;    Mental health conditions;    Productivity;    Disability;    Economic impact;    China;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-021-10414-7

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe co-occurrence of mental and physical chronic conditions (mental-physical multimorbidity) is a growing and largely unaddressed challenge for health systems and wider economies in low-and middle-income countries. This study investigated the independent and combined (additive or synergistic) effects of mental and physical chronic conditions on disability, work productivity, and social participation in China.MethodsPanel data study design utilised two waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011, 2015), including 5616 participants aged ≥45 years, 12 physical chronic conditions and depression. We used a panel data approach of random-effects regression models to assess the relationships between mental-physical multimorbidity and outcomes.ResultsAfter adjusting for socio-economic and demographic factors, an increased number of physical chronic conditions was independently associated with a higher likelihood of disability (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.33, 1.45), early retirement (AOR = 1.37 [1.26, 1.49]) and increased sick leave days (1.25 days [1.16, 1.35]). Depression was independently associated with disability (AOR = 3.78 [3.30, 4.34]), increased sick leave days (2.18 days [1.72, 2.77]) and a lower likelihood of social participation (AOR = 0.57 [0.47, 0.70]), but not with early retirement (AOR = 1.24 [0.97, 1.58]). There were small and statistically insignificant interactions between physical chronic conditions and mental health on disability, work productivity and social participation, suggesting an additive effect of mental-physical multimorbidity on productivity loss.ConclusionMental-physical multimorbidity poses substantial negative health and economic effects on individuals, health systems, and societies. More research that addresses the challenges of mental-physical multimorbidity is needed to inform the development of interventions that can be applied to the workplace and the wider community in China.

【 授权许可】

CC BY