Chinese General Practice ›› 2026, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (26): 3745-3751.DOI: 10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2025.0188

• Special Topic: Clinical Features in General Practice • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A Comparative Study of the Regional Characteristics of General Medically Unspecified Disease Patients in Northern and Southern China Based on Multi-center Real-world Data

  

  1. 1. Department of General Practice, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China
    2. Department of General Practice, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai 201600, China
    3. Department of General Practice, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University (Clinical Medical College), Jining 272000, China
    4. Department of General Practice, the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
    5. Department of General Practice, Anhui Medical University Affiliated Anqing Medical Center, Anqing 246000, China
  • Received:2025-07-10 Revised:2025-12-16 Published:2026-09-15 Online:2026-08-11
  • Contact: REN Jingjing

基于多中心真实世界数据的全科未分化疾病患者南北地区特征对比研究

  

  1. 1.310000 浙江省杭州市,浙江大学医学院附属第一医院全科医学科
    2.201600 上海市,上海交通大学医学院附属松江医院全科医学科
    3.272000 山东省济宁市,济宁医学院附属医院(临床医学院)全科医学科
    4.225000 江苏省扬州市,扬州大学附属医院全科医学科
    5.246000 安徽省安庆市,安徽医科大学附属安庆医学中心全科医学科
  • 通讯作者: 任菁菁
  • 作者简介:

    作者贡献:

    何国枢、任菁菁负责研究构思与设计;何国枢负责数据分析与解释、图表绘制,撰写论文初稿,并负责论文修订;朱佳宏、马方晖、孙文萍、刘雷、殷安康、唐文娟参与数据收集与整理;任菁菁对文章整体负责,监督管理。

  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金资助项目(72274169)

Abstract:

Background

Medically unspecified disease (MUD) refers to health conditions at any stage where a definitive diagnosis cannot be made based on clinical manifestations and examination results. In recent years, the prevalence of MUD has increased in various regions due to the aging population and the rising burden of chronic diseases. However, there is a lack of systematic studies on how regional differences influence the clinical manifestations, physical and mental health, and multimorbidity in MUD patients.

Objective

This study aims to compare the clinical characteristics, physical and mental health, and multimorbidity of MUD patients in northern and southern China, and to analyze the potential impact of regional differences on the health of MUD patients, in order to provide evidence for personalized treatment strategies.

Methods

This is a nationwide, multi-center, real-world study collecting clinical data of MUD patients from 14 research centers in China between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023. The patients were divided into northern and southern groups based on the Qinling-Huaihe Line. We compared patients' basic clinical data, lifestyle factors, psychological health assessments (PHQ-15, GAD-7, PHQ-9), quality of life (SF-36), fatigue (PFS), and multimorbidity status.

Results

A total of 1 414 patients were included in this study, comprising 444 (31.4%) from the northern region and 970 (68.6%) from the southern region. The average age of patients in the northern region was significantly younger than that in the southern region (P=0.002). Northern patients had significantly higher BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption rates compared to those in the south (P<0.001). In terms of the clinical manifestations of MUD, edema had an incidence of 39.9% (177/444) in the northern region, followed by fatigue at 30.6% (136/444), weight loss at 20.9% (93/444), chest pain at 1.6% (7/444), and dizziness at 0.9% (4/444). In the southern region, fatigue was most common at 41.1% (399/970), followed by edema at 22.4% (218/970), weight loss at 14.0% (136/970), dizziness at 8.6% (84/970), and chest tightness at 2.5% (25/970). The distribution of MUD categories differed significantly between the two regions (P<0.001). Southern patients had generally higher scores in physical and mental health assessments (PHQ-15, SF-36, PFS). Northern patients exhibited more severe anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) symptoms (P<0.001). In terms of multimorbidity, the proportion of 51-60 years patients in the northern region with ≥3 comorbid conditions was significantly higher than in the southern region (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Significant regional differences exist in the clinical manifestations, physical and mental health, and multimorbidity of MUD patients between northern and southern China. To more effectively manage MUD patients, particularly in addressing the challenges of multimorbidity and uncertain health issues, individualized treatment strategies should be developed based on regional differences, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary interventions and comprehensive health assessments.

Key words: Medically unspecified disease, Regional differences, General practice, Physical and mental health, Multimorbidity, Treatment strategies

摘要:

背景

未分化疾病(MUD)指处于疾病的任一阶段,依据其临床表现和检查结果,尚无法做出明确诊断的一类健康问题。近年来,随着人口老龄化和慢性病负担的增加,MUD在不同地区的病例数有所上升。然而,地区性差异对MUD患者的临床表现、身心健康和多病共存的影响尚缺乏系统性研究。

目的

本研究旨在比较中国南方地区与北方地区MUD患者在临床特点、身心健康和多病共存方面的差异,分析地区差异对MUD患者健康的潜在影响,为制订个性化诊疗策略提供依据。

方法

本研究为全国多中心真实世界横断面研究。收集2022年7月—2023年6月14家研究中心收治的MUD患者的临床资料。以秦岭-淮河为地理分界,将患者分为北方地区和南方地区两组。分析患者的人口学特征、生活方式因素、心理健康状况[患者健康问卷躯体症状群量表(PHQ-15)、广泛性焦虑量表(GAD-7)、抑郁症筛查量表(PHQ-9)]、生活质量[36项简明健康调查量表(SF-36)]、疲劳程度[匹兹堡疲劳量表(PFS)]及多病共存情况。

结果

共纳入1 414例MUD患者,其中北方地区444例(31.4%)、南方地区970例(68.6%)。南方地区患者的年龄高于北方地区,北方地区患者的BMI、吸烟率和饮酒率高于南方地区(P<0.05)。在MUD分类方面,北方地区水肿发生率为39.9%(177/444),乏力为30.6%(136/444),消瘦为20.9%(93/444),胸痛为1.6%(7/444),头晕为0.9%(4/444);南方地区乏力发生率为41.1%(399/970),水肿为22.4%(218/970),消瘦为14.0%(136/970),头晕为8.6%(84/970),胸闷为2.5%(25/970)。南方地区与北方地区患者的MUD分类比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。南方地区患者的身心健康评估情况(PHQ-15、SF-36、PFS)普遍较好,北方地区患者的焦虑(GAD-7)和抑郁(PHQ-9)程度较为严重(P<0.001)。在多病共存方面,北方地区51~60岁患者患≥3种慢性病的比例高于南方地区(P<0.05)。

结论

南方和北方地区MUD患者在临床表现、身心健康和多病共存方面存在显著差异。为更有效地管理MUD患者,尤其在面对多病共存和不确定健康问题的挑战时,需要根据地域差异制订个体化的诊疗方案,强调多学科联合干预和患者全面的健康评估。

关键词: 未分化疾病, 地区差异, 全科医学, 身心健康, 多病共存, 诊疗策略