[Study on the quality of life among the elderly in the rural and pastoral districts in Baotou city].
OBJECTIVE
In order to explore the situation of QOL of the elderly in the rural and pastoral districts in Baotou city, to compare the differences of QOL between the two districts, and to find out the major factors influencing the QOL of the elderly.


METHODS
SF-36, recommended by WHO was adopted to study the QOL of 1 421 old people in the rural and pastoral districts in Baotou city.


RESULTS
(1) The average weighted score based on the SF-36 was 64.16 +/- 18.76 in the rural area district and 73.94 +/- 17.48 in the pastoral district (F = 137.8, P < 0.01). The level of QOL of the elderly in the pastoral district was significantly higher than that in the rural district. (2) Results from the multiple liner regression analysis showed that the main factors influencing the QOL of the elderly were chronic disease, age, hospitalization, education and gender in the rural district, but chronic disease, age, hospitalization, income and marital status in the pastoral district.


CONCLUSIONS
Population with older age, low education, no spouse and low income should be viewed as the priority of attention and their special difficulties fully considered when setting up the policy of health care and social security.
Wang
S
S
Department of Preventive Medicine, Baotou Medical Collage, Baotou 014010, China.
Li
L
L
Li
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors