Background: Hypertension and diabetes often coexist in older adults, causing complex overlapping symptoms. However, systematic research on their symptom clusters and core symptoms is insufficient, necessitating this study. Objective: To explore the composition characteristics of symptom clusters in older adults with HDC, construct symptom networks and identify core symptoms, so as to provide a reference for the development of symptom management programs. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Patients were continuously recruited from community populations in northern Xinjiang, China, between June 2024 and September 2024. Participants: 766 hypertension–diabetes comorbidity patients aged 60 years and older. Methods: The symptoms were evaluated using a general information questionnaire and the memory symptom assessment scale (MSAS). The symptom clusters were extracted by systematic cluster analysis, and the symptom network was constructed by R (version 4.4.3) to analyze the central indicators. Results: The most common symptom was fatigue (73.5%), followed by dry mouth (64.9%), pain (55.8%), and dizziness (47.5%). Regarding the burden level of symptoms, fatigue was the most burdensome symptom, followed by pain, dry mouth, fatigue, and numbness/tingling in hands/feet. Three clusters were identified: circulatory metabolic disorder symptom cluster, endocrine neurological disorder symptom cluster, and general physical symptom cluster. Network analysis showed that fatigue was the core symptom of the population. Conclusions: Community nursing staff should focus on the symptom changes in older adults with HDC, implement precise interventions based on their symptom clusters and core symptoms, and develop personalized symptom management plans to improve the quality of life for patients.
Deng et al. (2026) studied this question.