Disability and its correlates among older adults with common mental disorders in China: a 5-year follow-up study.
11 affiliations
- 1Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
- 2Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.
- 3National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
- 4Xiangya School of Public Health, Changsha, China.
- 5Department of Psychological and Behavior Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- 6Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
- 7Department of Epidemiology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
- 8Institute of Social Science Survey, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- 9School of Government, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- 10Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management at Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.
- 11Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Abstract
Background
Common mental disorders (CMDs) represent a category of conditions characterized by a high rate of disability and a significant social burden. This study aims to describe disability at baseline and five years later among older adults with 12-month CMDs and to investigate its correlates.Methods
Based on the nationally representative China Mental Health Survey (CMHS), a five-year follow-up cohort study was conducted, in which older adults with 12-month common mental disorders (CMDs) at baseline were reassessed. Follow-up assessments were conducted by telephone, and disability was measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Disability prevalence at baseline and five-year follow-up and its correlates were analysed.Results
The baseline analyses included 582 older adults with CMDs, of whom 134 completed the five-year follow-up and were included in the follow-up analyses. The prevalence of disability at baseline and five years later were 57.1% and 19.3%, respectively. Older age (≥70 years vs. 60-64 years: RR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.19), residence in the Western region (vs. Eastern: RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.16), physical comorbidity (1-2 diseases: RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.18; ≥3 diseases: RR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.22-1.41), comorbidity of multiple CMDs (RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.14-1.29), and sleep disturbances (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10-1.24) were associated with higher disability scores. Higher educational level (junior high school and above vs. literate or below primary school) was associated with lower long-term disability among participants with CMDs (RR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.97). Living in urban areas (RR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.69-0.92) was associated with lower long-term disability among individuals with anxiety disorders.Conclusion
Long-term disability persists among older adults with CMDs who survived and were reachable despite an overall decline. Modifiable factors, including physical and mental comorbidity and sleep disturbances, were associated with higher baseline disability, whereas higher education and urban living were associated with a reduced risk of long-term disability. Integrated interventions are needed to reduce disability burden.
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BibTeX
@article{liu2026disability,
title = {{Disability and its correlates among older adults with common mental disorders in China: a 5-year follow-up study.}},
author = {Shuang Liu and Xiaofei Hou and Huifang Yin and Yueqin Huang and Minghui Li and Zhengjing Huang and Mi Hu and Shulin Chen and Changgui Kou and Yongping Yan and Hua Ding and Jie Yan and Jing Wen and Cunxian Jia and Qiang Li and Zhaorui Liu and Guangming Xu},
journal = {Frontiers in psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1907148},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908814},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Disability and its correlates among older adults with common mental disorders in China: a 5-year follow-up study.
AU - Shuang Liu
AU - Xiaofei Hou
AU - Huifang Yin
AU - Yueqin Huang
AU - Minghui Li
AU - Zhengjing Huang
AU - Mi Hu
AU - Shulin Chen
AU - Changgui Kou
AU - Yongping Yan
AU - Hua Ding
AU - Jie Yan
AU - Jing Wen
AU - Cunxian Jia
AU - Qiang Li
AU - Zhaorui Liu
AU - Guangming Xu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1907148
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908814
AB - Background Common mental disorders (CMDs) represent a category of conditions characterized by a high rate of disability and a significant social burden. This study aims to describe disability at baseline and five years later among older adults with 12-month CMDs and to investigate its correlates.Methods Based on the nationally representative China Mental Health Survey (CMHS), a five-year follow-up cohort study was conducted, in which older adults with 12-month common mental disorders (CMDs) at baseline were reassessed. Follow-up assessments were conducted by telephone, and disability was measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Disability prevalence at baseline and five-year follow-up and its correlates were analysed.Results The baseline analyses included 582 older adults with CMDs, of whom 134 completed the five-year follow-up and were included in the follow-up analyses. The prevalence of disability at baseline and five years later were 57.1% and 19.3%, respectively. Older age (≥70 years vs. 60-64 years: RR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.19), residence in the Western region (vs. Eastern: RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.16), physical comorbidity (1-2 diseases: RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.18; ≥3 diseases: RR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.22-1.41), comorbidity of multiple CMDs (RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.14-1.29), and sleep disturbances (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10-1.24) were associated with higher disability scores. Higher educational level (junior high school and above vs. literate or below primary school) was associated with lower long-term disability among participants with CMDs (RR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.97). Living in urban areas (RR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.69-0.92) was associated with lower long-term disability among individuals with anxiety disorders.Conclusion Long-term disability persists among older adults with CMDs who survived and were reachable despite an overall decline. Modifiable factors, including physical and mental comorbidity and sleep disturbances, were associated with higher baseline disability, whereas higher education and urban living were associated with a reduced risk of long-term disability. Integrated interventions are needed to reduce disability burden.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -