Gender differences in the health status of elderly living alone, compared to those who are not alone: Evidence of the AHAP study, North of Iran

Background: One of the factors that have impact on the health status of elderly people is living alone. This study was conducted to examine the living condition of elderly population in Babol and probable differences which this condition induced on the health disorders of elderly people. Methods: T...

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Main Authors: Simin Mouodi, Ali Bijani, Seyed Reza Hosseini, Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Babol University of Medical Sciences 2016-04-01
Series:Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-95-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1
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author Simin Mouodi
Ali Bijani
Seyed Reza Hosseini
Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki
author_facet Simin Mouodi
Ali Bijani
Seyed Reza Hosseini
Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki
author_sort Simin Mouodi
collection DOAJ
description Background: One of the factors that have impact on the health status of elderly people is living alone. This study was conducted to examine the living condition of elderly population in Babol and probable differences which this condition induced on the health disorders of elderly people. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 1544 elderly people aged 60 and over in Amirkola, Babol. Demographic characteristics, the incidence of falls, chronic diseases, polypharmacy, headache with uncertain cause, chronic pains and back pain were collected by the study questionnaire; social support, physical activity, depression and cognitive disorders were assessed with standard questionnaires. Results: 6.8% of elderly people were living alone. Lack of social support, cognitive disorders, depression, multiple chronic diseases, occurrence of falls and headache with uncertain cause were significantly higher among those elderly who live alone (p<0.05). Regardless of age and educational level, headache and depressive symptoms in male individuals living alone, and falls occurrence in female individuals were significantly more than those who did not live alone (p<0.05 ). Also, in female elderly subjects, the effect of the marital status factor on health-related disorders was more than the effect of living alone factor. Conclusion: Many disorders and disabilities are higher in the elderly people who live alone; also there is a difference in the health status of elderly people who live alone, according to their gender.
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spelling doaj.art-14aefcf1b03f44eab17b17a403a563a92022-12-22T02:55:12ZengBabol University of Medical SciencesCaspian Journal of Internal Medicine2008-61642008-61722016-04-0172126132Gender differences in the health status of elderly living alone, compared to those who are not alone: Evidence of the AHAP study, North of IranSimin Mouodi0Ali Bijani1Seyed Reza Hosseini2Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki3 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IRAN Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IRAN Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IRAN Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IRAN Background: One of the factors that have impact on the health status of elderly people is living alone. This study was conducted to examine the living condition of elderly population in Babol and probable differences which this condition induced on the health disorders of elderly people. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 1544 elderly people aged 60 and over in Amirkola, Babol. Demographic characteristics, the incidence of falls, chronic diseases, polypharmacy, headache with uncertain cause, chronic pains and back pain were collected by the study questionnaire; social support, physical activity, depression and cognitive disorders were assessed with standard questionnaires. Results: 6.8% of elderly people were living alone. Lack of social support, cognitive disorders, depression, multiple chronic diseases, occurrence of falls and headache with uncertain cause were significantly higher among those elderly who live alone (p<0.05). Regardless of age and educational level, headache and depressive symptoms in male individuals living alone, and falls occurrence in female individuals were significantly more than those who did not live alone (p<0.05 ). Also, in female elderly subjects, the effect of the marital status factor on health-related disorders was more than the effect of living alone factor. Conclusion: Many disorders and disabilities are higher in the elderly people who live alone; also there is a difference in the health status of elderly people who live alone, according to their gender.http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-95-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1Living alone Elderly Health status Iran
spellingShingle Simin Mouodi
Ali Bijani
Seyed Reza Hosseini
Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki
Gender differences in the health status of elderly living alone, compared to those who are not alone: Evidence of the AHAP study, North of Iran
Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine
Living alone
Elderly
Health status
Iran
title Gender differences in the health status of elderly living alone, compared to those who are not alone: Evidence of the AHAP study, North of Iran
title_full Gender differences in the health status of elderly living alone, compared to those who are not alone: Evidence of the AHAP study, North of Iran
title_fullStr Gender differences in the health status of elderly living alone, compared to those who are not alone: Evidence of the AHAP study, North of Iran
title_full_unstemmed Gender differences in the health status of elderly living alone, compared to those who are not alone: Evidence of the AHAP study, North of Iran
title_short Gender differences in the health status of elderly living alone, compared to those who are not alone: Evidence of the AHAP study, North of Iran
title_sort gender differences in the health status of elderly living alone compared to those who are not alone evidence of the ahap study north of iran
topic Living alone
Elderly
Health status
Iran
url http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-95-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1
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AT seyedrezahosseini genderdifferencesinthehealthstatusofelderlylivingalonecomparedtothosewhoarenotaloneevidenceoftheahapstudynorthofiran
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