Obesity and depressive symptoms in the elderly: a survey in the rural area of Chizhou, Anhui province.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between obesity and depressive symptoms and to test the "Jolly Fat" hypothesis among older Chinese. METHODS: A total of 736 rural Chinese aged 60 years and older participated in this cross-sectional study. Body mass index (BMI = kg/m(2) ) was calculated from the subjects' measured weight (kg) and height (meter). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30), with a cut-off point of 11. RESULTS: Among 736 total participants, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 24.1% in men and 27.9% in women. A trend about depressive symptoms decreased with increasing BMI was found in men (χ(2) trend = 5.74, df = 1, p = 0.01). A weak inverse linear trend between obesity and depressive symptoms was observed among subjects. In men, obese group was less likely to suffer from depressive symptoms compared with normal weight group before or after adjustment for confounders, with odds ratios of 0.32 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.12-0.85) and 0.28 (95% CI: 0.09-0.85), respectively. However, the association between BMI and depressive symptoms in women showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Our results supported the "Jolly Fat" hypothesis only in rural older Chinese men, but not in women. Gender differences existed in the relationship between obesity and depressive symptoms.

Characterization and factors associated with sleep quality among rural elderly in China.

This article elucidates on sleep quality characterization and its associated factors among the Chinese elderly in the rural areas of Anhui province. We conducted a questionnaire survey on 2700 elderly individuals, from whom we obtained 2416 valid responses. The sleep quality, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and functional status of the subjects were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Short Form-36 (SF-36), and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scales. Body Mass Index (BMI) was obtained by measuring the height and weight of the subjects. The results showed that 49.7% of the participants slept poorly. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that chronic disease, advanced age, low quantities of staple food (g), rice as major food, poor Physical Component Summary (PCS), poor Mental Component Summary (MCS), and significant dysfunction of ADL were predictors for poor sleep quality. However, no association was found between BMI and sleep quality. As half of the rural elderly in China were found to suffer from poor sleep quality, comprehensive measures should be undertaken to improve this situation.

[Sleep and quality of life among rural elderly in Anhui province].

OBJECTIVE: The primary purposes of this article were to examine the distributions and correlation between conditions of sleep and the quality of life, so as to explore the risk factors of abnormal sleep among elderly in the rural areas of Anhui province. METHODS: Elderly who aged 60 years or more (n = 1680) were randomly selected from rural areas in Anhui province. Conditions of sleep and quality of life of the subjects were assessed independently, using the pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scale and SF-36 scale. A generalized logistic model analysis was performed, using sleep-related factors as explanatory variables. RESULTS: The average PSQI score was 7.43 +/- 4.13. Persons whose sleep conditions were graded as well, common or poor were accounted for 29.4%, 24.3%, 46.3%, respectively. Sex and sleep quality were different in terms of quality of life among all the factors(P < 0.05). Men had better quality than women, and poor sleepers had poorer quality of life as compared to the one with better conditions. Factors as being married/living alone/economically independent, having better social function, often eating meat or wheat were significant predictors for having good sleep conditions. However, factors as better education received, living alone, with poor vitality/general health, having chronic diseases (back pain, coronary heart or stomach disease), less meat intake, rice as major foods etc. were predictors for poorer sleeping condition. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that it was unsatisfactory on the quality of sleep among the rural elderly in Anhui province. Conditions on general, health and nutrition should be improved in order to prevent the poor sleep condition.