Household Polluting Fuel Use and Frailty among Older Adults in Rural China: The Moderating Role of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors
This study worked to investigate the effect of household polluting fuel use (HPFU), as an indicator of household air pollution exposure, on frailty among older adults in rural China. Additionally, this study aimed to examine the moderating effect of healthy lifestyle behaviors on the aforementioned...
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/12/1747 |
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| author | Huiying Chen Xinpeng Xu Cangcang Jia Hai Gu Lu Zhang Yang Yi |
| author_facet | Huiying Chen Xinpeng Xu Cangcang Jia Hai Gu Lu Zhang Yang Yi |
| author_sort | Huiying Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study worked to investigate the effect of household polluting fuel use (HPFU), as an indicator of household air pollution exposure, on frailty among older adults in rural China. Additionally, this study aimed to examine the moderating effect of healthy lifestyle behaviors on the aforementioned association. This study employed cross-sectional data from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which conducted nationally representative sampling of older adults from 23 provinces in mainland China. The frailty index was calculated using 38 baseline variables that assessed health deficits through questionnaire surveys and health examinations. A total of 4535 older adults aged 65 years and above were included in our study, among whom, 1780 reported using polluting fuels as their primary household cooking fuel. The results of regression analyses and multiple robustness checks indicated a significant increase in the frailty index due to HPFU. This environmental health threat was more profound among women, illiterate individuals, and low-economic-status groups. Moreover, healthy dietary and social activities had significant moderating effects on the association between HPFU and frailty. HPFU can be regarded as a risk factor for frailty among older adults in rural China, with its effects exhibiting socio-economic disparities. The adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors can alleviate the frailty associated with HPFU. Our findings underscore the significance of using clean fuels and improving household air quality for healthy aging in rural China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:24:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6f8250c51674d7494f69ee1d470b994 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:24:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6f8250c51674d7494f69ee1d470b9942023-11-18T10:38:34ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-06-011112174710.3390/healthcare11121747Household Polluting Fuel Use and Frailty among Older Adults in Rural China: The Moderating Role of Healthy Lifestyle BehaviorsHuiying Chen0Xinpeng Xu1Cangcang Jia2Hai Gu3Lu Zhang4Yang Yi5Research Center for Health Policy and Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, ChinaSchool of Health Policy and Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, ChinaResearch Center for Health Policy and Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaResearch Center for Health Policy and Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaResearch Center for Health Policy and Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaThis study worked to investigate the effect of household polluting fuel use (HPFU), as an indicator of household air pollution exposure, on frailty among older adults in rural China. Additionally, this study aimed to examine the moderating effect of healthy lifestyle behaviors on the aforementioned association. This study employed cross-sectional data from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which conducted nationally representative sampling of older adults from 23 provinces in mainland China. The frailty index was calculated using 38 baseline variables that assessed health deficits through questionnaire surveys and health examinations. A total of 4535 older adults aged 65 years and above were included in our study, among whom, 1780 reported using polluting fuels as their primary household cooking fuel. The results of regression analyses and multiple robustness checks indicated a significant increase in the frailty index due to HPFU. This environmental health threat was more profound among women, illiterate individuals, and low-economic-status groups. Moreover, healthy dietary and social activities had significant moderating effects on the association between HPFU and frailty. HPFU can be regarded as a risk factor for frailty among older adults in rural China, with its effects exhibiting socio-economic disparities. The adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors can alleviate the frailty associated with HPFU. Our findings underscore the significance of using clean fuels and improving household air quality for healthy aging in rural China.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/12/1747older adultsfrailty indexhousehold air pollutionpolluting cooking fuelshealthy lifestyle behaviors |
| spellingShingle | Huiying Chen Xinpeng Xu Cangcang Jia Hai Gu Lu Zhang Yang Yi Household Polluting Fuel Use and Frailty among Older Adults in Rural China: The Moderating Role of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Healthcare older adults frailty index household air pollution polluting cooking fuels healthy lifestyle behaviors |
| title | Household Polluting Fuel Use and Frailty among Older Adults in Rural China: The Moderating Role of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors |
| title_full | Household Polluting Fuel Use and Frailty among Older Adults in Rural China: The Moderating Role of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors |
| title_fullStr | Household Polluting Fuel Use and Frailty among Older Adults in Rural China: The Moderating Role of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Household Polluting Fuel Use and Frailty among Older Adults in Rural China: The Moderating Role of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors |
| title_short | Household Polluting Fuel Use and Frailty among Older Adults in Rural China: The Moderating Role of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors |
| title_sort | household polluting fuel use and frailty among older adults in rural china the moderating role of healthy lifestyle behaviors |
| topic | older adults frailty index household air pollution polluting cooking fuels healthy lifestyle behaviors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/12/1747 |
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