A study of health status in Hainan centenarians

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the health status of Hainan centenarians and compare the gender disparity, and to determine whether the'male-female health-survival paradox’is present among them. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on the health status and gender disparity of individuals aged 100 and over in Hainan province from June 2014 to December 2016.Data of sociodemographics, lifestyles as well as health-related parameters were collected.The multi-dimensional health assessment of centenarians was conducted based on the recognition of standard on Chinese healthy elderly in 2013. Results A total of 940 centenarians(men 18.6%, women 81.4%)were included.The prevalences of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were 66.1%, 9.8%, and 21.2%, respectively, while no significant gender difference was found.Male centenarians were more independent in activity of daily living than did female centenarians(41.1% vs.25.9%, P<0.001). The prevalences of dementia(7.7% vs.4.0%)and depression(33.6% vs.18.9%)were more dominant in females than in males.Multivariate logistic regression showed that the proportions of functional disability, depression and sleep disorders were higher in female centenarians than in male centenarians(P<0.05)after adjusting for general demographic characteristics, lifestyle and other health indicators. Conclusions Although the female proportion dominates the centenarian population, female general health states are worse than male centenarians.More attentions on physical and mental health should be paid to the female centenarians. Key words: Centenarians; Health assessment