Comprehensive Comparison between Empty Nest and Non-Empty Nest Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study among Rural Populations in Northeast China

Ye Chang, Xiaofan Guo, Liang Guo, Zhao Li, Hongmei Yang, Shasha Yu, Guozhe Sun and Yingxian Sun
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Ye Chang: Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, China
Xiaofan Guo: Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, China
Liang Guo: Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, China
Zhao Li: Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, China
Hongmei Yang: Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, China
Shasha Yu: Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, China
Guozhe Sun: Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, China
Yingxian Sun: Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, China

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: This study aimed to comprehensively compare the general characteristics, lifestyles, serum parameters, ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG) parameters, depression, quality of life, and various comorbidities between empty nest and non-empty nest elderly among rural populations in northeast China. This analysis was based on our previous study which was conducted from January 2012 to August 2013, using a multistage, stratified, random cluster sampling scheme. The final analyzed sample consisted of 3208 participants aged no less than 60 years, which was further classified into three groups: non-empty nest group, empty nest group (living as a couple), and empty nest group (living alone). More than half of the participants were empty nest elderly (60.5%). There were no significant statistical differences for serum parameters, UCG parameters, lifestyles, dietary pattern, and scores of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire, abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF) among the three groups. Empty nest elderly showed no more risk for comorbidities such as general obesity, abdominal obesity, hyperuricemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, diabetes, dyslipidemia, left atrial enlargement (LAE), and stroke. Our study indicated that empty nest elderly showed no more risk for depression, low quality of life and comorbidities such as general obesity, abdominal obesity, hyperuricemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, diabetes, dyslipidemia, LAE, and stroke among rural populations in northeast China.

Keywords: rural population; northeast China; empty-nest elderly (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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