The Association Between Physical Activity, Mental Status, and Social and Family Support with Five Major Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases Among Elderly People: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Rural Population in Southern China.
BACKGROUND
Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) have become the top threat in China. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of major NCDs among the elderly population in rural areas in southern China and explore its associated social determinants.


METHODS
A multistage cluster random sampling methodology was adopted to select a total of 9245 rural elderly people from 3860 rural households in Guangdong Province. Interviews and physical examinations were performed to collect patient information. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore factors associated with the presence of major NCDs.


RESULTS
Over one-third (38.5%) of the study population suffered from five major NCDs. The grade of activities of daily living (ADL), mental status, and social relationship of elderly people without NCDs were better than those with NCDs. The major factors associated with the presence of NCDs among the elderly people included age (70-79 years group and 80-89 years group), education level (senior high/technical secondary school and junior college and above), mental status (concentration, enrichment and happy life and memory), relationship with neighbours, activities of daily living (ADL) (being able to climb three floors and bend over), physical activity, marital status (bereft), and living conditions (with offspring and family members).


CONCLUSIONS
The study identified several social determinants associated with the presence of major NCDs. A higher level of family support and physical exercise might contribute to improved physical condition, mental status, and ADL among the elderly people in rural areas in southern China.
School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China. mynameishx@163.com.
Xiang
X
Huang
The Sanxiang Community Health Service Center of ZhongShan City, Zhongshan 528463, China. mythyhj@163.com.
Huajie
H
Yang
School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. Haoxiang.Wang@glasgow.ac.uk.|General Practice and Primary Care, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 9LX, UK. Haoxiang.Wang@glasgow.ac.uk.
Harry H X
HH
Wang
The Health and Family Planning Bureau of ZhongShan City, Zhongshan 528403, China. 13702372004@163.com.
Yongjun
Y
Qiu
School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China. laixj66@163.com.
Xiujuan
X
Lai
School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China. zhihengz@163.com.
Zhiheng
Z
Zhou
School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China. lifangjian7502@163.com.
Fangjian
F
Li
School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China. zlw1980@126.com.
Liwei
L
Zhang
School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China. wjiaji@163.com.
Jiaji
J
Wang
The Health and Family Planning Bureau of ZhongShan City, Zhongshan 528403, China. doctorlei@126.com.
Jimin
J
Lei
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support
activities of daily living; mental status; non-communicable chronic disease; social relationship