The impacts of population aging have appeared in China, leading to a marked shift in the major contributors to life expectancy. Longevity improvements are now mainly promoted by reductions in mortality rates of the aged.

This study systematically evaluates both changes in mortality rates of major chronic diseases among populations aged over 60 years as well as their contributions to life expectancy increases in China, from 2005 to 2020.

The results of this study demonstrate that more attention should be paid to health conditions of the elderly, especially for the prevention and control of major chronic diseases.

Rehabilitation is an essential part of achieving health for all, whereas the estimates of rehabilitation needs, especially for elderly individuals in China, are not clear.

Compared with 1990, the prevalence and years of life lived with disability for health conditions in need of rehabilitation in China increased by 71.3% and 77.0% in 2019, respectively, at a rate much higher than the global average.

This study mainly presents scientific data and a systematic analysis of the current state and challenges of rehabilitation needs for elderly individuals (aged 60 and above) in China based on the World Health Organization Rehabilitation Need Estimator.