Who Bears the Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases?

Xuemei Zhang, University of Melbourne
Barbara McPake, School of Population and Global Health, Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, with their burden shifting from affluent to disadvantaged populations as economies develop. This study explores how the health burden of NCDs shifts with socioeconomic status (SES) in China, a country undergoing rapid epidemiological and socio-demographic changes. Objectives: This research investigates: 1) the distribution and temporal trends of NCDs by SES; 2) the relationship between SES and NCDs over time; 3) demographic variations in SES-NCD relationships; and 4) cancer-related comorbidities and demographic influences in China and the UK. Methods: Project 1 (published): Analyzed CHARLS 2015 data to assess NCD distribution and SES gradients, revealing SES-NCD gradient reversals. Project 2 (under review): Utilized CHNS and CFPS data to explore 30-year trends in NCDs and SES, identifying gender-specific SES-NCD gradient reversals by using Multivariable logistic regression and Blinder-Oaxaca (BO) decomposition models. Project 3 (manuscript drafted): Examined SES mobility impacts on NCDs using CFPS data. Project 4 (ongoing): Investigates cancer-related comorbidities in China and the UK using CFPS and UK Biobank data, and further assess the SES and demographic impacts Expected Findings: This study will reveal shifting NCD burdens, SES gradients, and demographic influences on NCDs and comorbidities in diverse contexts.

Keywords: Longitudinal studies , Qualitative data/methods/approaches, Decomposition analysis, Comparative methods

See extended abstract.