(1) Background: Multimorbidity, defined as the occurrence of two or more chronic diseases, is a global public health problem which has a significant negative impact on individuals, families and the society. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between overweight, obesity and the prevalence of multimorbidity among male and female older adults; (2) Methods: Cross-sectional data of the 7070 participants from China, aged 60 years and above included in 2017 the Shandong Elderly Family Health Service Survey were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between overweight, obesity and the prevalence of multimorbidity in males and females; (3) Results: Among the 7070 participants, of which 40.25% were males and 59.75% were females, the average age of all participants was (69.81 ± 6.45) years old. The prevalence of multimorbidity in older adults was 34.71%, and the overweight and obesity rates were 39.25% and 16.89%. Among the male elderly, the likelihood of multimorbidity was more than two times higher among the obese than the normal BMI population (OR: 2.14; 95%CI: 1.63–2.82). A less strong association was found in the overweight male older population (OR: 1.43; 95%CI: 1.18–1.74). In the females, compared with individuals with normal BMI, the risks for incident multimorbidity were high in the overweight and obese groups, with odds ratios of 1.42 (95%CI: 1.21–1.65) and 1.81 (95%CI: 1.51–2.17), respectively. (4) Conclusions: In this study, overweight and obesity had the strongest association with the prevalence of multimorbidity among Chinese older adults, and the associations were different between the male and female elderly. The prevalence of multimorbidity might be effectively prevented by controlling body mass index. Encouraging the elderly to eat the recommended amount of vegetables and fruits, walk at least 30 min a day and have enough sleep to maintain a healthy weight.

With the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the demand for medical services from chronic disease patients has become diversified and personalized. The advantages and role of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases gradually emerging. The preferences and willingness to pay for traditional Chinese medicine services (TCMS) among patients with chronic diseases, as well as any disparities between urban and rural patients, have not been examined in past studies. This study aimed to investigate the preferences of chronic disease patients for TCMS, explore the value/importance that patients place on different treatment attributes, and evaluate whether there are urban-rural differences in their preferences and willingness to pay for TCMS. A total of 317 patients from Jiangsu Province, China participated in a discrete choice experiment that elicited the preferences for TCMS. The choice questions were constructed by six attributes: out-of-pocket (OOP) cost, institution, medical provider, treatment method, treatment duration, treatment efficacy. Mixed logit models were used to estimate the stated preference and marginal willingness to pay for each attribute. The choice preferences of chronic disease patients for TCMS in this study were influenced by the four attributes: institution, treatment method, and treatment efficacy, and OOP cost. Improvements in treatment efficacy were the most concerning, followed by being treated in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospital. Patients were willing to pay more to get better treatment outcomes. Compared with primary care institutions, patients were willing to pay more for treatment in TCM hospitals. The preferences for economic attribute (OOP cost) varied between urban and rural areas, and rural patients tended to favor scenarios that imposed a lower economic burden on them. The chronic disease patients’ preferences for TCMS were determined mainly by treatment efficacy but also by institution, treatment method and OOP cost. The urban-rural difference in preference identified in this study highlights that effective policy interventions should consider the characteristics of patients’ demand in different regions.

(1) Objectives: With an aging society in China, self-treatment now plays an important role in health care among older adults, but it can be problematic. This study aims to explore and compare the self-treatment behavior among empty and non-empty nesters. (2) Methods: Using a multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method, a total of 4366 elderly people aged 60 and above from Shandong Province, China, were enrolled in this study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the associated factors of self-treatment. (3) Results: The prevalence of self-treatment in empty nesters was significantly lower than that in non-empty ones (74.0% vs. 83.3%). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that higher educational level and poorer self-rated economic status were negatively associated with self-treatment in empty nesters, while unemployed and urban and rural residents’ basic medical insurance were positively associated with self-treatment in non-empty ones. (4) Conclusions: The study indicated that empty nesters had lower likelihood of self-treatment than non-empty ones. Empty nesters with better socioeconomic status were more likely to use self-treatment; by contrast, non-empty nesters with relatively poorer socioeconomic status were more inclined to self-treatment. Targeted interventions should be developed to maximize the effectiveness of self-treatment and reduce health risks.