Abstract
Background: Population aging and its consequences area substantial global concern. The growth in the numbers of older people is one of the most important factors increasing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on society. The Tabriz Older People Survey (TOPS) aimed to understand the socio-demographics, health-related behaviors, and health profile of older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of 1362 community dwelling older adults in Tabriz, the most populated city in the northwest of Iran. The sampling method was probability proportionate to size (PPS). Data collection was conducted in the households of the participants from summer 2019 to winter 2020. Trained interviewers administered the questionnaire, which measured socio-demographics, anthropometrics, social support, sleep quality, mental health, past medical history, dietary habits, traditional medicine, physical activity, and other health-related behaviors. Results: The sample of 1362 consisted of 56.4% fameless and 54.4% were young older people (60-69 years old). Almost half of the sample were completely illiterate. There was no daily walking in 13.3% of the sample, with women reporting a more sedentary lifestyle than males. Out of the 1362 participants, 135 (9.9%) were current smokers, which was higher in males (20.9% vs. 1.5%) and more than 88% of people who lived alone were women. In terms of sleep quality, anxiety, depression, cognitive status, daily functioning, and social support, men were significantly better than women. Hypertension and stroke were the most and least common underlying diseases (81.0% vs. 6.2%). Conclusions: The findings suggest that older women are significantly worse than older males in terms of social and disability related measures, as well as having a higher burden from some NCDs. The results of this study might help regional health policymakers to identify targets for improving the quality of life among community-housed geriatrics.
HEALTH-RELATED BEHAVIORS OF SENIORS IN RURAL VERSUS URBAN AREAS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
