Association between sensory impairment and cardiometabolic multimorbidity among older Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Sensory impairments and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) are prevalent age-related conditions that significantly impact the health of older adults. Understanding whether sensory impairments are risk factors for CMM is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies and public health policies. This study aimed to investigate the associations between sensory impairments and CMM among older Chinese adults. Data were obtained from the 2018 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Participants aged 60 years and above were included. Sensory impairments and CMM were assessed with self-reporting methods. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between sensory impairments and CMM. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the interactions between the sensory impairment–CMM association and sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors. A total of 8334 participants were included in the analysis. After adjusting for potential covariates, no significant association was found between single sensory impairment and CMM. However, dual sensory impairment (DSI) was significantly associated with an increased risk of CMM (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.862, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.387-2.500). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant interactions between sensory impairments and CMM across sociodemographic, lifestyle, or psychological variables. This study highlights a significant association between DSI and CMM in older adults. The results advocate for the incorporation of sensory impairment assessments into the clinical assessment of CMM risk and the integration of intervention strategies such as sensory rehabilitation to enhance vision and hearing function in the management of CMM. We also recommend governments and health agencies to increase resource allocation towards hearing and vision healthcare services for older adults with CMM.