Does Hearing Impairment Affect Mental Health Among Chinese Older Adults? Evidence from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey

Abstract Studies suggest that depression is closely linked to hearing impairment, which is highly prevalent among older adults in the United States. There is evidence that social engagement may be impacted by hearing impairment in older adults. However, there is relatively little research on these associations among Chinese older adults. This study examines the relationships between hearing impairment, social activities, and depressive symptoms among older adults in China. Using nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011, we conducted cross-sectional analysis on adults age 60 years and older (n=10,994). Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale and we considered self-reported hearing status (if participants wear a hearing aid and how they would rate their hearing), and social activities (i.e., volunteering, dancing, attending courses, etc.). Models were controlled for age, gender, education, and other covariates. Descriptive analysis showed that 9% of older adults experienced hearing impairment. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that hearing impairment was positively associated with depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults (β=1.32, p<.001). Social activities were found to partially mediate the relationship between hearing status and depressive symptoms. Respondents with hearing impairment were less likely to engage in social activities (OR=.78, p<.01) and those who did not participate in social activities reported more depressive symptoms (β=1.28, p<.001). These findings suggest that Chinese older adults experiencing hearing loss are at greater risk of depression and that social activities play an important role in the relationship between hearing status and depression.

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Orofacial Pain Symptoms Among Chinese Older Adults in the Last Year of Life

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.115 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 32-32

Author(s):

Yaolin Pei ◽

Xiang Qi ◽

Xi Chen ◽

Bei Wu

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Joint Pain ◽

Orofacial Pain ◽

Lower Socioeconomic Status ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

Healthy Longevity ◽

Lower Socioeconomic ◽

Natural Teeth ◽

Jaw Joint ◽

Pain Symptoms

Abstract The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of orofacial pain symptoms and its associated factors in Chinese older adults in the last year of life. We retrospectively followed 1,646 participants (60 years or older) in the last year of life to death from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The 6-month prevalence of toothache and jaw joint pain or facial pain for older adults in the last year of life to death were 14.1% and 4.5%, respectively. Older adults who had lower socioeconomic status, were smokers, and had any chronic disease tended to have orofacial pain symptoms. This study generated interesting but counterintutive findings that Chinese older adults who brusehed their teeth at least daily and those who had at least one natural teeth were more likely to have orofacial pain. It is important to include dental care as a part of end-of-life medical treatment.

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Apolipoprotein E Genotype, Meat, Fish, and Egg Intake in Relation to Mortality Among Older Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis in China

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.697389 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Xurui Jin ◽

Shangzhi Xiong ◽

Changzheng Yuan ◽

Enying Gong ◽

Xian Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Apolipoprotein E ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Population Based ◽

Fish Intake ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

Healthy Longevity ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Diet Pattern ◽

Interactive Relationship

Introduction: The interactions between apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and diet pattern changes were found significant in several trials, implying that APOE gene may modify the effect of animal protein-rich food on health outcomes. We aim to study the interaction of APOE genotype with the effect of meat, fish and egg intake on mortality.Methods: This population-based study enrolled 8,506 older adults (mean age: 81.7 years, 52.3% female) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study. The intake frequency of meat, fish and egg was assessed by 3-point questions at baseline. Cox regression was conducted to calculate the hazard ratios for all-cause mortality of intake levels of meat, fish and egg. The analyses were stratified by APOE genotype and sex. The analyses were performed in 2020.Results: In the multivariable-adjusted models, meat and fish intake was associated with all-cause mortality (high vs. low intake: meat: HR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.28; fish: HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.95). APOE genotype have significant interactions with meat and fish intake (Ps < 0.05). Compared with low fish intake, high fish intake was associated with lower risk of mortality (HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56–0.98) only among the APOE ε4 carriers. High meat intake was significantly associated with higher risks of mortality (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04–1.25) only among the APOE ε4 non-carriers. The interactive relationship was restricted among the male. No significant findings were observed between egg and mortality among carriers or non-carriers.Conclusions: Among Chinese older adults, the significance of associations of mortality with reported meat or fish intake depended on APOE-E4 carriage status. If validated by other studies, our findings provide evidence for gene-based “precision” lifestyle recommendations.

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Lifestyle and Cultural Factors Related to Longevity Among Older Adults in the Northeast of Thailand

Journal of Transcultural Nursing ◽

10.1177/1043659620921225 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 104365962092122

Author(s):

Alchalee Jantapo ◽

Wichitra Kusoom

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Health Management ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Well Being ◽

Care Services ◽

Healthy Longevity ◽

And Control ◽

Thai Culture

Introduction: Healthy longevity is important in older adults. The lifestyle and cultural background are likely related to longevity. This study explored lifestyles and Buddhist Thai culture relating to longevity, and evaluated activities of daily living (ADL), body mass index (BMI), and mental health. Method: A mixed method using concurrent embedded strategy was employed. Qualitative data collection included observation and in-depth interviews with 30 older adults aged 80 years and above from Northeastern Thailand. Quantitative data: Barthel ADL, BMI, and Thai Geriatric Mental Health Assessment (T-GMH-A) were assessed. Content analysis was applied using the Strauss and Corbin method. Results: Four major themes were, promoting physical activities, prevention and control of diseases, mental health management, and Buddhist socio-Thai culture. Means of Barthel ADL, BMI, and T-GMH-A were 19.0 ( SD 1.1), 21.34 ( SD 3.07), and 53.53 ( SD 7.22), respectively. Discussion: These factors greatly influenced longevity and well-being. Culturally congruent care should be implemented to health care services.

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Health in the Neighborhood and Household Contexts Among Older Chinese Americans

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/0898264316661829 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (8) ◽

pp. 1388-1409 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Fengyan Tang ◽

Ling Xu ◽

Iris Chi ◽

Xinqi Dong

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Cohesion ◽

Living Arrangements ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Chinese Americans ◽

Neighborhood Disorder ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Older Chinese Americans

Objective: This study examined the associations of neighborhood characteristics and living arrangements with physical and mental health among older Chinese Americans. Method: A sample of 3,159 community-dwelling Chinese older adults in the Greater Chicago area provided reports of health, socio-demographic characteristics, living arrangements, social cohesion, and neighborhood disorder. We used multinomial logistic, Poisson, and negative binominal regression analyses. Results: Neighborhood disorder was consistently associated with negative health indicators, including poor self-reported health, more chronic conditions, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Findings about the relationships between social cohesion and health indicators were mixed. Social cohesion was more salient to mental health for those living with spouse, children, and/or grandchildren relative to those living with spouse only. Discussion: Policies and interventions are needed to improve the physical and social environments of neighborhoods and to promote healthy aging among Chinese older adults and in the general population as well.

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Associations between Volunteering and Mental Health during COVID-19 among Chinese Older Adults

Journal of Gerontological Social Work ◽

10.1080/01634372.2021.1904079 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Wai Chan ◽

Cheryl Hiu Kwan Chui ◽

Johnson Chun Sing Cheung ◽

Terry Yat Sang Lum ◽

Shiyu Lu

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Chinese Older Adults

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A New Classification of Function and Disability in China

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/0898264312444310 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 779-798 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jama L. Purser ◽

Qiushi Feng ◽

Zeng Yi ◽

Helen Hoenig

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Environmental Predictors ◽

New Classification ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

Rural Living ◽

Healthy Longevity ◽

Prevalent Subtype ◽

Performance Limitations ◽

And Performance

Objectives: To develop a new classification method to describe incidence and prevalence of function and disability and their predictors in Chinese older adults. Methods: Data were obtained from 16,020 older adults in the 2002 wave of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The subtypes of function and disability were defined by combining physical performance (PP) tests and self-reported assessments of activities of daily living (ADL). Results: The most prevalent subtype involved PP limitations without ADL dependency. Rural living made it more likely that an individual with physical performance limitations would be independent in ADL, whereas city residence made dependence in ADL more likely, regardless of whether performance limitations were present. Discussion: Self-reported and performance-based tools can be used in combination to estimate conceptually different subtypes of function and disability, with different epidemiological rates of incidence and different social, medical, and environmental predictors.

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The Effects of Grandchild Care on Mental Health Among Chinese Elderly: The Mediating Effects of Social Networks

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1122 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 349-349

Author(s):

Dan Tang ◽

Jie Qiu ◽

Kun Zhang

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Reference Group ◽

Baseline Survey ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

Grandchild Care ◽

The Social ◽

Older Chinese

Abstract Using the data of 2014 baseline survey of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), which provides a sample of older Chinese who had grandchild younger than 18 years old, this study examines the associations among grandchild care, social networks, and depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults. The older adults are divided into three groups basing on the frequency of their behaviors of taking care of grandchildren. The three groups are ‘no care, providing care occasionally, providing care frequently’. The mediating and moderating effects of social networks between grandchild care and depressive symptoms are tested. Results show that older adults who provide grandchild care report superior social networks and better mental health than those who don’t provide grandchild (reference group). After controlling the related variables, the older adults who provide grandchild occasionally benefit more than those who take care of grandchild frequently. Grandchild care is related to larger social networks, and the social networks are fully mediating the association between grandchild care and depressive symptoms.

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The Association between Allostatic Load and Mortality among Chinese Older Adults: The Chinese Longitudinal Health and Longevity Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-31124/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tianhang Zhang ◽

Lijing Yan ◽

Huashuai Chen ◽

Haiyu Jin ◽

Chenkai Wu

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Allostatic Load ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Cox Models ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

Healthy Longevity ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Significant Difference ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Wear And Tear

Abstract Background Allostatic load, as multiple biomarker measures of ‘wear and tear’ on physiological systems, has shown some promise that high burden of AL is associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes, but little attention has been paid to China with largest aging population in the world. This study is to examine the association between allostatic load (AL) and all-cause mortality among Chinese adults aged at least 60 years. Methods Data were from 2,439 participants in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The final analytic sample consisted of 1,519 participants. Cox models were used to examine the association between AL and mortality among men and women, separately. Analysis were also adjusted for potential confounders including age, ethnicity, education, and marital status, smoking and exercise. Results In the fully adjusted model, males with a medium AL burden (score: 2–4) and high AL burden (score: 5–9) had a 34% and 128% higher hazard of death, respectively, than those with a low AL burden (score: 0–1). We did not find significant difference between females with different levels of AL burden. Discussion Higher AL burden was associated with increased all-cause mortality among Chinese men aged at least 60 years. However, we did not find strong evidence about Allostatic load was associated with specific causes of death over the same follow-up period among women. In conclusion Intervention programs targeting modifiable components of the AL burden may help prolong lifespan for older adults, especially men, in China.

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Tooth Loss, Denture Use, and Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Older Adults: A Community Cohort Study

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glab056 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hai-Lian Yang ◽

Fu-Rong Li ◽

Pei-Liang Chen ◽

Xin Cheng ◽

Chen Mao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Tooth Loss ◽

Potential Interaction ◽

Hazard Ratio ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

Healthy Longevity ◽

Natural Teeth ◽

State Examination

Abstract Background Evidence regarding the associations of tooth loss and denture use with incident cognitive impairment is inconclusive in older adults, and few prospective studies have examined the potential interaction between tooth loss and denture use in these specific populations. Methods Data were assessed from 17 079 cognitively normal older adults aged ≥65 years, participating in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The outcome of interest was cognitive impairment (assessed by the Chinese version of Mini-Mental State Examination). The number of natural teeth and status of denture use were collected by a structural questionnaire. Results A total of 6456 cases of cognitive impairment were recorded during 88 627 person-years of follow-up. We found that compared with participants with 20+ teeth, those with 10–19, 1–9, and 0 teeth had increased risks of incident cognitive impairment (p-trend < .001). Participants without dentures also had a higher risk of incident cognitive impairment, compared with those who wore dentures. Effect modification by denture use was observed (p-interaction = .010). Specifically, among those without dentures, the adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for participants with 10–19, 1–9, and 0 teeth were 1.19 (1.08, 1.30), 1.28 (1.17, 1.39), and 1.28 (1.16, 1.41), respectively, as compared to those with 20+ teeth. In contrary, among denture users, detrimental effect was only observed among those with 0 teeth (hazard ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.16, 1.41). Conclusions In Chinese older adults, maintaining 20+ teeth is important for cognitive health; denture use would attenuate the detrimental effects of tooth loss, especially for partial tooth loss, on cognitive impairment.

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