Trajectories of rural-urban disparities in biological risks for cardiovascular disease among Chinese middle-aged and older adults

Abstract This study examined rural-urban differences in age trajectories of biological risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. Data were from the 2011 wave of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, including 11,528 respondents (Mage = 59.15) from 440 communities. CVD risk factors included C-reactive protein (CRP), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC). Multilevel models revealed that rural adults had higher levels of HDL and lower levels of CRP and BMI on average, compared to urban adults. We also found significant rural-urban differences in the age trajectories of CVD risks. Rural-urban disparities in CVD risks increased from middle to later life, and converged at later old age. Findings suggest that rural-urban differences in cardiovascular health are not static, but rather vary throughout adulthood.