Gender Differences in Cognitive Impairment among Rural Elderly in China

Jing Wang, Lily Dongxia Xiao, Kai Wang, Yan Luo and Xiaomei Li
Additional contact information
Jing Wang: Faculty of Nursing, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 76# Yanta West Road, Xi’an 710061, China
Lily Dongxia Xiao: College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
Kai Wang: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13# HangKong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
Yan Luo: Faculty of Nursing, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 76# Yanta West Road, Xi’an 710061, China
Xiaomei Li: Faculty of Nursing, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 76# Yanta West Road, Xi’an 710061, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: Elders in rural areas of developing countries are particularly vulnerable to cognitive impairment and gender disparities are notable. Yet, evidence related to gender differences in cognitive impairment in these settings is scarce. This study examined gender differences in cognitive impairment among elderly people aged 65 and above in rural China. A multi-site cross-sectional survey was conducted. In total, 550 males and 700 females were recruited. The Chinese version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination was applied for cognitive impairment screening. Demographic information, lifestyle factors, psychosocial factors, and health-related information were assessed. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 40.0%in males and 45.1% in females, respectively. Females showed significant higher prevalence after age 75 (62.7% vs. 45.4%, p < 0.005). Older age, hearing impairment, and activities of daily living dependence were common factors associated with cognitive impairment in both females and males. For males, living in a neighborhood with poor social interactions and diabetes were risk factors, while tea consumption was a protective factor. For females, vision impairment and illiteracy were additional risk factors. Individualized interventions and standardized measurements of cognitive function should be developed to suit older populations living in rural and less-developed areas, through collective efforts involving all stakeholders and multidisciplinary teamwork.

Keywords: cognitive impairment; epidemiology; risk factors; gender difference; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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