A cohort study on the influence of the chronic diseases on activities of daily living of the elderly aged 65 years and over in China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand the influence of chronic diseases on the risk of impaired activities of daily living (ADL) of the elderly. Methods: Baseline data of 10 501 elderly individuals recruited by the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey in 2002 were used, and follow up for this population was conducted until 2014. Cox Proportional Hazard Model was used to estimate the hazards ratios (HR) for the associations between five kinds of chronic diseases, the number of chronic diseases and the risk of ADL impairment in different age groups of the elderly. Results: Hypertension increased the risk of ADL impairment in the elderly of all age groups, which increased the ADL impaired risk by 43% (HR=1.43, 95%CI: 1.14-1.79) in group aged 65-74 years, 21% (HR=1.21, 95%CI: 1.02-1.43) in group aged 75-89 years and 20% (HR=1.20, 95%CI: 1.02-1.43) in group aged 90-105 years, respectively. Diabetes and cerebrovascular disease increased the ADL impaired risk by 102%(HR=2.02, 95%CI: 1.29-3.17), and 79% (HR=1.79, 95%CI: 1.24-2.58) in group aged 65-74 years, respectively. 'Suffering from one chronic disease' increased the ADL impaired risk by 13% (HR=1.13, 95%CI: 1.02-1.25), and suffering from two or more chronic diseases increased the ADL impaired risk by 25% (HR=1.25, 95%CI: 1.13-1.40) in all the age groups. Suffering from two or more chronic diseases increased the ADL impaired risk by 50% (HR=1.50, 95%CI: 1.21-1.87) in group aged 65-74 years and 17% (HR=1.17, 95%CI: 1.01-1.38) in groups aged 75-89 years. Conclusions: Hypertension was one of the most important risk factors for the impaired ADL in the elderly population in all age groups. Hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease or comorbidity increased the risk of impaired ADL in group aged 65-74 years.

Characteristics of HIV-infected persons without long term disease progress and related factors in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand the characteristics of HIV infected persons without long term disease progress [also known as long term non-progressors (LTNPs)], and related factors in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi). Methods: Data of persons living with HIV and receiving no antiretroviral therapy in Guangxi by the end of 2016 were collected from the national HIV/AIDS comprehensive control and prevention information system of China. Results: By the end of 2016, there were 313 LTNPs in Guangxi, accounting for 2.3% of those being reported for more than 10 years, 5.4% of those being reported for more than 10 years and surviving, and 26.6% of those being reported for more than 10 years, surviving and receiving no antiretroviral therapy. Among the LTNPs, 87.2%(273) were men, 94.9% (297) were aged ≤ 40 years, 32.3% (101) were farmers, 55.6% (174) were single, divorced or widowed, 69.3% (217) were of Han ethnic group, 68.1% (213) were injecting drug users, and 52.1% (163) were from custody facilities. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that factors associated with delayed disease progression included age ≤40 years (compared with age >40 years, aOR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.31-3.12) and injection drug use (compared with sexual transmission, aOR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.10-1.74). Conclusions: A number of LTNPs existed in HIV-infected individuals in Guangxi. Further research are needed to identify the related factors, and it is necessary to conduct large sample size studies on host immunology, genetics and the virology of HIV to explore the related mechanism.

Study on the effectiveness of implementation: the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To assess the implementation and impact of programs carried out by the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. Methods: Both sociological and epidemiological methods were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data in November and December, 2016 in order to conduct on process and outcome evaluation of the above mentioned objective. In the meantime, case study was also conducted. Results: All the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases were found well implemented across the country, with health education and health promotion, surveillance and safeguard measures in particular. A government-led and inter-sector coordination and communication mechanism had been well established, with more than 16 non-health departments actively involved. 28.7% of the residents living in the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases were aware of the key messages related to chronic diseases. Among the residents, 72.1% of them consumed vegetables and 53.6% consumed fruits daily, with another 86.9% walked at least 10 minutes per day. Over 70% of the patients with hypertension or diabetes reported that they were taken care of by the Community Health Centers, and above 50% of them were under standardized management. Residents, living in the National Demonstration Areas under higher ranking of implementation scores, were more likely to be aware of relevant knowledge on chronic disease control and prevention (OR=6.591, 95%CI: 5.188-8.373), salt reduction (OR=1.352, 95%CI: 1.151-1.589), oil reduction (OR=1.477, 95%CI: 1.249-1.746) and recommendation on physical activities (OR=1.975, 95%CI: 1.623- 2.403). Conclusion: The implementation of programs carried out by the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases had served a local platform for the control and prevention of non-communicable diseases, and thus become an important 'carrier' for chronic disease prevention and control programs in China.

Current status on prevalence, treatment and management of hypertension among Chinese adults in the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To investigate the current status of prevalence, treatment, and management on hypertension among Chinese adults from the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. Methods: We selected a total of 4 000 residents aged ≥18 years for this questionnaire-based survey by multi-stage clustering sampling in 10 National Demonstration Areas between November and December, 2016. Results: There were 3 891 effective questionnaires. The self-reported prevalence of hypertension among aged ≥35 years was 31.47% (1 011/3 213). For the past two weeks, the self-reported treatment of hypertension was 86.75%(877/1 011), with the rates of guidance as 56.87% (575/1 011) on physical activity, 40.95% (414/1 011) on diet, 38.33% (385/1 011) on weight management, and 22.75% (228/1 011) on smoking cessation. For the past 12 months, 74.68% (755/1 011) of the residents aged ≥35 years were under the proper management and 62.12% (628/1 011) of them were under the standardized management programs. The follow-up program lasted for 4 (P(25)-P(75): 4-12) times per year, with 15 (P(25)-P(75): 10-20) minutes per each visit. Hypertensive patients would mainly visit the outpatient clinics (53.51%), followed by home visits (22.91%) and telephone calls (13.64%). Rate of satisfaction on management services was 94.83% (716/755) from the hypertensive patients. Multivariate analysis showed that the rate of self-reported treatment (OR=1.986, 95%CI: 1.222-3.228) and self-reported standardized management (OR=2.204, 95%CI: 1.519-3.199) on hypertension were higher in the Demonstration Areas with higher implementation scores of self-reported non-communicable diseases management. Conclusions: Prevention and management on hypertension in the Demonstration Areas had met the requirement set for the Demonstration Areas during the "12th Five-Year Plan" . Projects on setting up the National Non-communicable Diseases Demonstration Areas had played an active role in promoting the standardized management program on hypertension.

Management programs on diabetes among Chinese adults in the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand the current situation on management of diabetes mellitus patients aged 35 and above in the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, in China. Methods: Local residents, aged 18 years and above were randomly selected by a complex, multistage, probability sampling method. Face-to-face questionnaire survey was carried out between November and December 2016. Rates regarding prevalence, treatment and management of diabetes were calculated, and influencing factors of diabetes were analyzed by using the non-conditional logistic regression model. Results: A total of 3 213 residents aged ≥35 years were included in this study, of which 11.48% (369/3 213) reported that they had ever been informed by a doctor or other health worker that their blood sugar level was high or being diabetic. The rate of self-reported treatment among the diabetic patients was 83.20% (307/369). Rates on overall management and standardized management were 69.92% (258/369) and 53.66% (198/369), respectively. Higher rates were seen in residents aged 55 to 64 years, 76.32% for overall management and 59.65% for standardized management. Through multiple logistic regression analysis, we found that standardized management for diabetes was much higher in the Demonstration Areas located in the eastern areas (OR=2.942, 95%CI: 1.547-5.594), or patients with characteristics including high implementation score (OR=3.499, 95%CI: 1.865-6.563), already signed family doctors (OR=5.661, 95%CI: 3.237-9.899), or without hypertension (OR=1.717, 95%CI: 1.010- 2.920). Residents who were living in the first and second batch areas of implementation or responding to the NCDs with positive attitude were more likely to accept standardized management. Conclusion: Prevention and management programs on diabetes had met the requirements set for the Demonstration Areas which had promoted the specific implementation and further development of standardized management on diabetes.

Study on consumption of vegetables and fruits and related influencing factors among residents from the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To investigate the consumption of vegetables and fruits and related influencing factors among residents from the National Demonstration Areas of Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. Methods: From November to December, 2016, a total of 4 000 residents, aged 18 or above, from ten Demonstration Areas, were selected as participants for this study by multi-stage cluster random sampling method. Information on vegetables, fruits consumption and related influencing factors was collected via questionnaire. Results: A total of 3 891 residents were involved in the final analysis. Daily consumption of vegetables and fruits accounted for 72.1% and 53.6% of the residents under study. The residents who were aware of the National Demonstration Areas activities were more willing to have adequate intake of vegetables (OR=3.017, 95%CI: 2.426-3.753) and fruits (OR=1.261, 95%CI: 1.007-1.580). Residents with higher degree of participation activities of the demonstration areas were more likely to have adequate fruits intake (high degree: OR=1.431, 95%CI: 1.210-1.694; medium degree: OR=1.573, 95%CI: 1.315- 1.882). Conclusions: The implementation of the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases has improved the adequate vegetables and fruits intake among residents. Relevant activities carried out in the Demonstration Areas appeared conducive to the healthy lifestyle of the residents.

Study on the overall implementation status of the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand the current overall status of implementation on the National Demonstration Areas of Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. Methods: According to the scheme design of the questionnaires, all the National Demonstration Areas were involved in this study. For each National Demonstration Areas, eight departments were selected to complete a total of 12 questionnaires. Results: Scores related to the implementation of the National Demonstration Areas accounted for 71.8% of the total 170 points. Based on the scores gathered from this study, the 23-items-index-system that represented the status of project implementation was classified into seven categories. Categories with higher percentile scores would include: monitoring (88.0%), safeguard measures (75.0%), health education and health promotion (75.0%). Categories with lower percentile scores would include: the national health lifestyle actions (67.7%), community diagnosis (66.7%), discovery and intervention of high-risk groups (64.7%), and patient management (60.9%). There were significant differences noticed among the eastern, central and western areas on items as safeguard measures, health education/promotion, discovery and intervention of high-risk groups. In all, the implementation programs in the eastern Demonstration Areas seemed better than in the central or western regions. As for the 23 items, five of the highest scores appeared on policy support, mortality surveillance, tumor registration, reporting system on cardiovascular/cerebrovascular events, and on tobacco control, respectively. However, the lowest five scores fell on healthy diet, patient self-management program, oral hygiene, setting up the demonstration units and promotion on basic public health services, respectively. The overall scores in the eastern region was higher than that in the central or the western regions. The scores in the central and western regions showed basically the same. Conclusions: The overall status of implementation on the National Demonstration Areas was satisfactory. Future attention should be focusing on patient management as well as discovery and intervention of high-risk groups, which also presented the lowest scores, in this survey.

Impact of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis co-infection on related mortality / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand the impact of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) co-infectious (HIV/MTB) on related mortality in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, provide evidence for the development of a better HIV/MTB co-infection control and prevention program. Methods: A multiple cross-systems check (MCSC) approach was used to confirm the HIV/MTB co-infection individuals on data related to treatment, follow-up, epidemiological comprehensive and Tuberculosis (TB) special report system. Social demography characteristics, incidence of TB among HIV positive individuals, HIV incidence among MTB infection persons etc., were described. We compared the mortalities and related risks between HIV/MTB co-infection and mono HIV positive individuals as well as between the HIV/MTB co-infection and mono MTB infection persons, using both the Chi Square test and the Cox's proportional hazard regression model (Cox). Results: Reported data showed that the incidence of MTB co-infection in the HIV cohort was 17.72% (2 533/14 293), while HIV incidence in the TB patients was 5.57% (2 351/42 205), respectively. The mortality of HIV/MTB co-infection in the HIV/AIDS cohort was 15.16% (384/2 533) within one-year of observation and was significantly higher than the mortality (13.63%,1 603/11 760) of mono HIV positive individuals (P<0.000 1). The percentage of the HIV/AIDS death cases was 19.33% (384/1 987) who registered and died in the 2011 calendar year were caused by MTB co-infection. Among all the HIV/MTB co-infection patients who had been identified from the HIV cohort, 60.05% (1 521/2 533) had initiated ART, 15.48% (392/2 533) had been cured for TB and 27.48% (696/2 533) had been under complete TB regimen. Among the confirmed HIV/MTB cases from the TB cohort, the cure rate of TB was 19.70% (463/2 351) and the percentage of completed TB regimen was 37.26% (876/2 351). The percentage of the individuals whose CD(4)(+) T lymphocyte cells count appeared less than 200 cell/μl was 64.13% (785/1 224), upon the HIV diagnoses were made. Compared with individuals who were under mono HIV infection, the mortality risk on HIV/MTB co-infection was 1.17 times higher during the five-year observation period, then the patients with only mono MTB infection and the mortality risk in patients with HIV/MTB co-infection was 25.68 times higher under the 12-month observation period. Conclusions: Both the incidence and mortality of HIV/MTB appeared high in Guangxi, with mortality and the risk of mortality in the HIV/MTB co-infection group significantly higher than that in both the HIV mono infection and the MTB mono infections groups. Both the rate of antiretroviral treatment coverage and the cure rate of TB treatment should be increased in no time as well as the capability of early TB case-finding among people living with HIV.