Objective To analyze the current status of comorbidity involving hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia and its associated factors among adults living in high-altitude, multi-ethnic areas of northwestern Yunnan.

Methods Using a multistage stratified random sampling method, 1 988 adult residents were selected from 8 high-altitude counties and districts across 4 prefectures and cities in northwestern Yunnan. Participants underwent questionnaire surveys, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with hypertension combined with diabetes, hypertension combined with dyslipidemia, diabetes combined with dyslipidemia, and comorbidity involving all three conditions. In each model, participants without disease and those with a single disease were used as the control group.

Results Among the participants, the prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were 33.1% (658/1 988), 10.3% (205/1 988), and 23.7% (471/1 988), respectively, and the overall comorbidity rate was 16.6% (95%CI: 15.0%–18.3%). The prevalence rates of hypertension combined with diabetes, hypertension combined with dyslipidemia, diabetes combined with dyslipidemia, and comorbidity involving all three conditions were 6.9% (95%CI: 6.0%–8.2%), 12.1% (95%CI: 10.8%–13.7%), 4.7% (95%CI: 3.9%–5.8%), and 3.7% (95%CI: 2.9%–4.6%), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that older age, Tibetan ethnicity, Bai ethnicity, Naxi ethnicity, history of smoking, and history of alcohol consumption were associated with higher odds of all four types of comorbidity. Middle age and obesity were associated with higher odds of hypertension combined with dyslipidemia; overweight was associated with higher odds of hypertension combined with diabetes; Lisu ethnicity was associated with higher odds of diabetes combined with dyslipidemia. Adequate or higher levels of health-promoting lifestyle were associated with lower odds of all four types of comorbidity (all P＜0.05).

Conclusions Adults living in high-altitude, multi-ethnic areas of northwestern Yunnan have a substantial burden of comorbidity involving hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Older adults and Tibetan, Bai, and Naxi residents should be regarded as key populations. Joint screening for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia and lifestyle interventions should be strengthened.