Aging-related disorders in Southern China: A prospective cohort study

JOURNAL/agad/04.03/02274129-202607000-00002/figure1/v/2026-06-18T113019Z/r/image-tiff Objectives: Rapid urbanization in Shenzhen has led to a unique ‘compressed aging’ phenomenon in which older migrant populations face shifting lifestyles and environmental stressors. This study serves as a baseline report for the Guangming Aging Cohort Study, aiming to establish a comprehensive health profile and determine the prevalence of aging-related noncommunicable chronic diseases to provide a foundation for longitudinal research. Methods: This baseline cross-sectional analysis of a prospective observational cohort study included 40,621 community-dwelling adults aged over 65 years who were recruited from 59 community health service centers in the Guangming District of Shenzhen, South China. Baseline data were collected between 2018 and 2024. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, standardized physical examinations, and laboratory tests. Major diseases were defined based on a combination of self-reported medical history, medication records, or clinical measurements. Baseline characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Comparisons between sexes using chi-square tests and t tests revealed significant disparities in lifestyle and clinical profiles. Results: At baseline, the mean age was 72.31 ± 5.79 years, and 44.63% of the participants were males. The baseline profile revealed a high prevalence of metabolic and sensory disorders: hypertension (56.02%), diabetes mellitus (28.20%), dyslipidemia (58.63%), abdominal obesity (42.44%), fatty liver (31.29%), kidney stones (21.66%), dental caries (22.98%), hyperuricemia (29.50%), and vision impairment (70.79%). The mean values for the selected biomarkers were as follows: body mass index, 23.78 ± 3.58 kg/m²; fasting blood glucose concentration, 5.85 ± 1.14 mM; total cholesterol concentration, 5.10 ± 1.37 mM; and triglyceride concentration, 1.58 ± 1.17 mM. Conclusion: This study identified a health profile among community-dwelling older adults in South China, characterized by a high prevalence of multiple chronic disease comorbidities yet generally preserved functional capacity. This baseline characterization provides critical evidence for the subsequent longitudinal tracking of biological aging markers and functional decline trajectories.