CHSJ

Curr Health Sci J, vol. 48, no. 2, 2022

Living Arrangement of Older Adults and its Effect on Five-Year Survival

[Original Paper]

A. BIJANI(1), N.NEGHABI(2), S.R. HOSSEINI(1), R. GHADIMI(1), S. MOUODI(1)


(1)Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran;
(2)Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran


Abstract:

Introduction: Given the impact of living alone on health outcomes, this study was conducted to assess the living arrangement of senior adults and its effect on the mortality. Material and Methods: This cohort study carried out on elderly people aged 60 years and over. Demographic characteristics, the number of comorbid disorders and living condition-as being alone or living with other people-were collected. The mini-mental state examination questionnaire, the geriatric depression scale, the Katz index of activities of daily living, the Lawton instrumental activities of daily living scale, and a modified version of Duke social support index were used for data collection. The participants were followed for five years, and their survival was assessed. Results: Out of the 500 examined individuals, 100 (20.0%) were living alone. During 5 years of follow-up, sixteen (19.8%) of the people who died were living alone. The adjusted effect of age (P<0.001), male gender (P=0.004), the number of comorbidities (P=0.031), the person's social support (P=0.028) and dependence to others to do complex daily activities (P=0.020) on the mortality of the participants was significant, however, other factors including living alone, illiteracy, cognitive impairment and depression did not show such a statistically significant effect (P>0.05). Conclusion: Living arrangement, itself, did not show a significant effect on the mortality of older adults.


Keywords: Aging, Loneliness, Survival.



Corresponding: Simin Mouodi, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran, e-mail: dr.mouodi@gmail.com


DOI 10.12865/CHSJ.48.02.07 - Download PDF
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