Consistency between self-reported disease diagnosis and clinical assessment and under-reporting for chronic conditions: data from a community-based study in Xi’an, China

Abstract

Aims: The current study aims to investigate the consistency between the surveyees’ self-reported disease diagnosis and clinical assessment of eight major chronic conditions using community-based survey data collected in Xi’an, China in 2017. With a focus on under-reporting patients, we aim to explore its magnitude and associated factors, to provide an important basis for disease surveillance, health assessment and resource allocation, and public health decision-making and services. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to collect self-reported chronic condition prevalence among the study participants, while physical examinations and laboratory tests were conducted for clinical assessment. For each of the eight chronic conditions, the sensitivity, specificity, under-reporting, over-reporting, and agreement were calculated. Log-binomial regression analysis was employed to identify potential factors that may influence the consistency of chronic condition reporting. Results: A total of 2,272 participants were included in the analysis. Four out of the eight chronic conditions displayed under-reporting exceeding 50%. The highest under-reporting was observed for goiter [85.93, 95% confidence interval (CI): 85.25–86.62%], hyperuricemia (83.94, 95% CI: 83.22–84.66%), and thyroid nodules (72.89, 95% CI: 72.02–73.76%). Log-binomial regression analysis indicated that senior age and high BMI were potential factors associated with the under-reporting of chronic condition status in the study population. Conclusion: The self-reported disease diagnosis by respondents and clinical assessment data exhibit significant inconsistency for all eight chronic conditions. Large proportions of patients with multiple chronic conditions were under-reported in Xi’an, China. Combining relevant potential factors, targeted health screenings for high-risk populations might be an effective method for identifying under-reporting patients.