Global pattern and drivers of disease heterogeneity in aging populations

The unprecedented demographic shifts toward an aging population pose significant challenges to global healthcare systems. Understanding the heterogeneity in disease prevalence among the elderly is crucial for effective public health strategies. Using prevalence data of 85 types of age-related diseases, we calculated the global heterogeneity of disease distribution by the Shannon Diversity Index (SHDI). We observed significant geographic variations in disease heterogeneity, with higher SHDI values in high-income Western countries such as the United States of America and Sweden and lower in South Asia and Oceania (p