The Effects of Institutional Selection and User Choice on the Quality and Satisfaction of Care Services for Middle-aged People and Older Adults : Focusing on the Case of Sejong City

Hypertension is a leading chronic risk for population health in China, especially for older and middle-aged adults. However, a representative estimate of hypertension prevalence lacks for general older populations. With datasets from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS) and China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), two nationally representative longitudinal surveys, this report aims to provide some estimates of hypertension prevalence in older and middle-aged adults overall and by social and demographic variables. There had been a marked increase in hypertension prevalence from 41% to 52% among older adults over the past two decades. Older adults, who were females, with urban residence, high income, from eastern China, and engaged in non-agricultural work, were more likely to be hypertensive. About 30% of middle-aged people in China were suffering from hypertension. These findings are significant in identifying potentially vulnerable populations with hypertension, which may have implications for clinical intervention.

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Do Age-Friendly Rural Communities Affect Quality of Life? A Comparison of Perceptions from Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147283 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7283

Author(s):

Jingyu Yu ◽

Guixia Ma ◽

Shuxia Wang

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Public Transportation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Test Reliability ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Aged People ◽

Outdoor Spaces

The aging population in rural areas of China faces serious challenges due to urban–rural disparities. In order to improve the active aging of rural older adults, the establishment of age-friendly communities is encouraged. However, globally, the focus is on age-friendly communities in urban areas, not reflecting rural communities. Hence, we addressed the importance of age-friendly rural communities (AFRCs) and aimed to investigate their impact on the quality of life (QoL) of older adults. We examined different perceptions of AFRCs among older adults (aged over 60) and middle-aged people (45–60) in rural communities with questionnaire surveys (n = 470 and 393, respectively). Several statistical methods, such as Chi-squared test, t-test, reliability test, and multiple regression, were adopted to investigate and compare the perceptions of these two. The results indicated that (1) middle-aged people were more satisfied with AFRC components and had a higher QoL than older adults; (2) the QoL of middle-aged people was predicted by housing, accessibility, and outdoor spaces; (3) the QoL of older adults was affected by housing, outdoor spaces, social participation, and public transportation. These findings aid in our understanding of rural communities and the QoL of rural residents. They are helpful for urban planners and policymakers to improve the planning of AFRCs and supplement research on age-friendly communities in rural areas. Practical implementations are proposed for the planning of AFRCs, such as the passive design of residential housing, grouping of community facilities together, and improvement in the hygiene of outdoor spaces in rural areas.

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Influence of the Purinergic Signalling System on the Properties of Human Blood Cells at Ageing

Journal of Medical and Biological Research ◽

10.37482/2687-1491-z043 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 51-57

Author(s):

Evgeniya A. Sladkova ◽

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Red Blood Cells ◽

Mechanical Stress ◽

Blood Cells ◽

White Blood Cells ◽

Purinergic Signalling ◽

Biophysical Properties ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Signalling System ◽

Aged People

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules and nucleotide derivatives contribute to a wide range of cellular reactions through the activation of A2 and P2 purinergic receptors located on the cell surface. Almost any type of cells expresses such receptors, including red blood cells and white blood cells. The study of purinergic transmission of signals mediating calcium mobilization, actin polymerization, chemotaxis, release of mediators, tissue oxygenation, cell maturation, cytotoxicity, cell death and cell–cell interactions in dynamics at different stages of ontogenesis is an important issue in biology and medicine today. This paper aimed to explore the biophysical properties of blood cells during the activation of the purinergic signalling system in middle-aged people and older adults. To activate the elements of the purinergic signalling system, an in vitro model of mechanical stress was used. Blood samples were analysed using the methods of atomic force microscopy, namely, force spectroscopy and the Kelvin probe. When the purinergic signalling system is activated, an increase in ATP blood concentration is identified in the blood of both middle-aged people and older adults. In the blood of older adults, a smaller amount of ATP was recorded compared with the blood of middle-aged people, which can be due to changes in the expression of purinoreceptors on the surface of red blood cells at ageing. Erythrocytes and granulocytes in older adults are characterized by increased surface stiffness and potential upon activation of the purinergic signalling system, compared with cells of middle-aged people. In response to mechanical stress, lymphocyte membrane stiffness in older adults increases more significantly than in middle-aged people. Thus, the results indicate an important role of the ATP molecule and its derivatives in the regulation of functioning of blood cells through binding to receptors of the P2 family. Research on the changes in the biophysical properties of red blood cells and white blood cells at activation of the purinergic signalling system will allow us to identify new effects of purine compounds on intercellular interaction during ageing.

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