[Sleep Duration and Abdominal Obesity in Elderly in China].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between sleep duration and abdominal obesity in elderly in china. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2013 China Health and Retirement National Investigation (China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, CHARLS). The prevalence of abdominal obesity in the elderly who had a normal range of sleep duration was compared with those who had a shorter or longer sleep duration using Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression models. RESULTS: Higher odds of abdominal obesity were found in the elderly male with a shorter (OR=1.627, 95%CI: 1.286-2.060, P<0.05) or longer (OR=1.499, 95%CI: 1.009-2.228, P<0.001) sleep duration, compared with those with a normal range of sleep duration. Statistical significances were found in the prevalence of abdominal obesity among those with different characteristics in education, smoking, chronic conditions, and social participation. CONCLUSION: Both long and short sleep durations are associated with increased risk of obesity, which is more evident in older men. Bad living habits and mental state will increase the risk of abdominal obesity.

[Perceptions and Attitudes of Chengdu Residents toward "Medical and Aged Care" Integrated Models].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the perceptions and attitudes of Chengdu residents toward "medical and aged care" integrated models and associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 935 residents who were 45 years or older in 8 communities in Chengdu. Descriptive analyses and logistic binary regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: About 91.1% of respondents preferred self-care and family support, and only 8.9% preferred community and institutional care. About 84.9% of respondents reported no knowledge about the "medical and aged care" integrated models, and 15.1% had some basic understanding of the integrated care models. Middle-aged respondents were more likely to understand the integrated care models than their older counterparts, with 21.7% willing to endorse the integrated care models. The logistic regression analyses showed that age, educational attainment, marital status, chronic illness, available financial support, and knowledge and awareness were associated with the choice. CONCLUSIONS: Chengdu residents have low level of knowledge and awareness of the "medical and aged care" integrated models. Public education is needed to promote the new aged care models.

[Urban-Rural Differences in the Role of Family Support in Physical and Mental Health of Elderly People in China].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate social support for elderly in urban and rural settings, and determine its role in physical and psychological health of the elderly populations. METHODS: Data were extracted from the 2013 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Physical health was measured by the ADL/IADL scale. Mental health was measured by the CES-D scale. Family support included financial support, daily care and emotional care. Binary logistic models were established to test the associations between family support and physical and mental health. RESULTS: For the rural elderly people, financial support from children was positively associated with physical health (P <0.05); whereas, emotional comfort from children was associated with better mental health (P <0.01). Daily care from children was associated with physical and mental health of the elderly in both urban and rural settings (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: An urban-rural difference exists in the role of family support in physical and mental health of the elderly. Rural elderly people are more dependent on family support than their urban counterparts. Social support needs to be strengthened to reduce the urban-rural gap. Meanwhile, family support will continue to play a role in improving the health of elderly populations.

[Prevalence and Associated Factors of Arthritis in Middle- and Old-aged Populations in China].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of arthritis in middle- and old-aged populations in China and associated factors. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2013 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations of arthritis with social economic status (age, gender, areas, education), comorbidity (hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, digestive disease, asthma), lifestyle (smoking, drinking, sleeping) and mental health (depression symptoms). RESULTS: About 30.8% of respondents reported arthritis. Those who resided in rural areas, drank regularly, and had depression symptoms, hypertension, chronic lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, digestive disease and asthma had higher prevalence of arthritis than others. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of arthritis is high in middle- and old-aged populations in China, which deserves increasing attention.

[Regional Differences and Determinants of Self-rated Health in Elderly].

OBJECTIVE: To determine differences of self-rated health in elderly people across geographic regions of China, and to identify factors influencing self-rated health of elderly. METHODS: Ordered logistic modeling was performed using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data in 2013. RESULTS: Elderly people resided in Eastern China had better self-rated health than their counterparts residing in Middle (partial regression coefficient 0.252, P < 0.01) and Western (partial regression coefficient 0.338, P < 0.001) China. Sex, residency, education, per capita consumption expenditure, smoking and drinking, social participation, chronic diseases, and life satisfaction were identified as associated with self-rated health of elderly. CONCLUSION: There are regional differences in self-rated health of elderly. Policy priorities should be given to Middle and Western China, with more health resources being allocated to those regions. Regional economic and educational inequalities need to be addressed. Healthy lifestyle should be promoted.

[Depressive Symptoms in the Mid- and Old-aged People in China].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and determinants of depressive symptoms in the mid- and old-aged people in China. METHODS: Data were extracted from the 2013 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS),which containthe Center Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale(CES-D). Binary logistic regression models were developed to identify factors associated with the prevalence of depression symptoms. These included socio-economic status of the respondents (gender, age, education),health-related factors (chronic diseases, disability, accident injury, and fall in recent two years),and family events over the past two years (deaths of a parent, spouse or child). RESULTS: About 31.9% of respondents had depressive symptoms, with a mean CES-D score of 8.0±4.9.Women and those who were younger than 75 years, widowed, resided in a rural area, had low levels of education, and suffered from multiple chronic conditions were more likely to have depressive symptoms than the others. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of depressive symptoms in the mid- and old-aged population in China is evident, which is associated with the health and socio-economic status of the population.