The aging process in China is accelerating, and the number of older adults with chronic diseases is increasing. The association between hypertension, along with its comorbidities, and dementia in older adults requires further investigation.

To investigate the association between hypertension, its comorbidities, and dementia in community-dwelling older adults, and to provide evidence for dementia prevention.

This study utilized cross-sectional data from 14 732 individuals aged ≥65 years from the China Multicenter Dementia Survey (CMDS, 2018-2023). Data on sociodemographic characteristics, chronic diseases, and cognitive function were collected. We employed a multivariate Logistic regression model to analyze the association between hypertension and its comorbidities and dementia in the total population and different age and sex groups.

Among the 14 732 older adults (≥65 years), 8 293 (56.3%) had two or more comorbidities, and 7 786 (52.9%) had hypertension along with other comorbidities. Of these hypertensive individuals, the numbers with 1, 2, 3, and 4 comorbidities were 2 569 (17.4%), 2 064 (14.0%), 1 018 (6.9%), and 443 (3.0%), respectively. Dementia was identified in 1 111 participants (7.5%). After adjusting for covariates, multivariate Logistic regression results showed that the risk of dementia in the hypertension-only group was 1.516 times (95%CI=1.014-2.267, P=0.042), and the risk of dementia among those with hypertension and 1 to 4 comorbidities was 1.879 times (95%CI=1.312-2.692, P=0.001), 2.071 times (95%CI=1.428-3.004, P<0.001), 2.338 times (95%CI=1.612-3.392, P<0.001), 2.591 times (95%CI=1.634-4.108, P<0.001). The highest risk of dementia was observed in individuals with hypertension coexisting with cerebrovascular disease (OR=2.550, 95%CI=1.384-4.700, P=0.003). In analyses stratified by sex and age, the risk of dementia increased significantly with the number of hypertension comorbidities (P<0.05). The strongest association was observed for hypertension coexisting with cerebrovascular disease, with adjusted odds ratios of 2.842 (95%CI=1.095-7.375, P=0.032) in men and 2.348 (95%CI=1.060-5.203, P=0.036) in women. In the group aged <75 years, the highest risk was observed for hypertension coexisting with diabetes (OR=2.833, 95%CI=1.046-7.675, P=0.041), while in the group aged≥75 years, the highest risk was observed for hypertension coexisting with cerebrovascular disease (OR=2.707, 95%CI=1.168-6.273, P=0.020). Among participants with hypertension and two comorbidities, the highest dementia risk was observed in those with coexisting heart disease and cerebrovascular disease (OR=3.559, 95%CI=1.338-9.468, P=0.011). Similarly, among those with hypertension and three comorbidities, the highest prevalence of dementia was observed in individuals with coexisting heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and autonomic dysfunction (OR=3.881, 95%CI=1.736-8.677, P=0.001).

The prevalence of hypertension and its comorbidities is high among Chinese older adults. Patients with hypertension and its comorbidities have a significantly elevated risk of dementia, which varies by age and sex. These findings underscore the importance of optimized management of chronic diseases in this population. Implementing tailored prevention and treatment strategies based on individual characteristics could contribute to reducing the risk of dementia.

中国老龄化进程加快，老年慢性病患者增多，老年人患高血压及高血压共病与老年患痴呆的关联性需进一步探讨。

了解社区老年人高血压及其共病与痴呆的关联性，为痴呆预防提供参考依据。

基于2018—2023年中国多中心痴呆调查（CMDS）中14 732例≥65岁老年人社会人口学、慢性病资料及认知功能评估的横断面数据，采用多因素Logistic回归分析在总人群及不同年龄和性别人群中高血压及其共病与痴呆的关联性。

14 732例≥65岁老年人中有2种及以上共病患者8 293例（56.3%）；高血压及其共病患者7 786例（52.9%），其中高血压共1~4种病分别为2 569例（17.4%）、2 064例（14.0%）、1 018例（6.9%）和443例（3.0%）；患痴呆1 111例（7.5%）。调整协变量后多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示，与未患病老年人相比，仅患高血压组患痴呆风险为1.516倍（95%CI=1.014~2.267，P=0.042），高血压共1~4种疾病患痴呆的风险分别为1.879倍（95%CI=1.312~2.692，P=0.001），2.071倍（95%CI=1.428~3.004，P<0.001），2.338倍（95%CI=1.612~3.392，P<0.001），2.591倍（95%CI=1.634~4.108，P<0.001）；高血压共脑血管病人群的痴呆患病风险最高，为2.550倍（95%CI=1.384~4.700，P=0.003）；按性别分层和年龄分层，随高血压共病数量增加，痴呆的患病率风险增加（P<0.05）；男性、女性患高血压共脑血管病痴呆人群的患病风险最高分别为2.842倍（95%CI=1.095~7.375，P=0.032）、2.348倍（95%CI=1.060~5.203，P=0.036）；<75岁组高血压共糖尿病人群的痴呆患病风险最高（OR=2.833，95%CI=1.046~7.675，P=0.041），≥75岁组高血压共脑血管病人群的痴呆患病风险最高（OR=2.707，95%CI=1.168~6.273，P=0.020）；高血压共2种疾病中高血压共病心脏病和脑血管病人群的痴呆患病率最高（OR=3.559，95%CI=1.338~9.468，P=0.011），高血压共3种疾病中高血压共病心脏病、脑血管疾病和自主神经功能紊乱人群的痴呆患病率最高（OR=3.881，95%CI=1.736~8.677，P=0.001）。

中国老年人高血压及高血压共病患病率较高，高血压及其共病患者患痴呆风险显著增加且有年龄和性别差异，提示临床需重视对该人群的慢性病管理，依据个体特征采取针对性的防治策略，进而降低痴呆发生风险。