Rural Elderly Population Research Articles

Study on the Impact of the Rural Population Aging on Agricultural Total Factor Productivity in China

Study on the Impact of the Rural Population Aging on Agricultural Total Factor Productivity in China

Study on the relationship between KCNQ1 gene-environment interaction and abnormal glucose metabolism in the elderly in a county of Hechi City, Guangxi.

This study aimed to understand the potassium voltage-gated channel KQT-like subfamily, member 1 gene polymorphism in a rural elderly population in a county in Guangxi and to explore the possible relationship between its gene polymorphism and blood sugar. The 6 SNP loci of blood DNA samples from 4355 individuals were typed using the imLDRTM Multiple SNP Typing Kit from Shanghai Tianhao Biotechnology Co. The data combining epidemiological information (baseline questionnaire and physical examination results) and genotyping results were statistically analyzed using GMDR0.9 software and SPSS22.0 software. A total of 4355 elderly people aged 60 years and above were surveyed in this survey, and the total abnormal rate of glucose metabolism was 16·11 % (699/4355). Among them, male:female ratio was 1:1·48; the age group of 60-69 years old accounted for the highest proportion, with 2337 people, accounting for 53·66 % (2337/4355). The results of multivariate analysis showed that usually not doing farm work (OR 1·26; 95 % CI 1·06, 1·50), TAG ≥ 1·70 mmol/l (OR 1·19; 95 % CI 1·11, 1·27), hyperuricaemia (OR 1·034; 95 % CI 1·01, 1·66) and BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 (OR 1·06; 95 % CI 1·03, 1·09) may be risk factors for abnormal glucose metabolism. Among all participants, rs151290 locus AA genotype, A allele carriers (AA+AC) were 0.70 times more likely (0.54 to 0.91) and 0.82 times more likely (0.70 to 0.97) to develop abnormal glucose metabolism than CC genotype carriers, respectively. Carriers of the T allele at the rs2237892 locus (CT+TT) were 0.85 times more likely to have abnormal glucose metabolism than carriers of the CC genotype (0.72 to 0.99); rs2237897 locus CT gene. The possibility of abnormal glucose metabolism in the carriers of CC genotype, TT genotype and T allele (CT + TT) is 0·79 times (0·67-0·94), 0·74 times (0·55-0·99) and 0·78 times (0·66, 0·92). The results of multifactor dimensionality reduction showed that the optimal interaction model was a three-factor model consisting of farm work, TAG and rs2237897. The best model dendrogram found that the interaction between TAG and rs2237897 had the strongest effect on fasting blood glucose in the elderly in rural areas, and they were mutually antagonistic. Environment-gene interaction is an important factor affecting abnormal glucose metabolism in the elderly of a county in Hechi City, Guangxi.

Association of serum fatty acids with bone health in rural elderly population in Qingdao, China: A cross-sectional study.

As a type of macronutrient, fatty acids (FA) play significant roles in the bone health of elderly people. However, the specific association between different types of FA and bone health is not fully understood, especially in rural elderly populations. To address this gap, a study was conducted in rural areas of Qingdao, China. Participants aged 65 and older were randomly recruited from 11 rural villages in Licha town, Qingdao City. The levels of serum FA in their serum were measured to investigate the associations between FA and bone mass. The results showed that levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA), n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA) were all significantly associated with bone mass. Specifically, higher levels of SFA were positively correlated with low bone mass (LBM), while PUFA levels were inversely correlated with LBM. Furthermore, the odds ratio (OR) for LBM exhibited a significant nonlinear dose-response relationship (pnonlinearity = 0.1989) with SFA levels, and a significant nonlinear dose-dependent relationship was also observed with the levels of n-3PUFA and n-6PUFA (pnonlinearity = 0.6183, 0.5808, respectively), indicating that increasing dietary PUFA intake appropriately and controlling SFA intake may benefit the bone health of elderly individuals in rural areas.

Investigation of thermal comfort and preferred temperatures among rural elderly in Weihai, China: Considering metabolic rate effects

As the population ages, the thermal environment indoors for the elderly has garnered extensive attention. However, current research on thermal comfort for the elderly is not comprehensive, particularly for rural elderly individuals who experience unique thermal perceptions and adaptation behaviors due to physical changes. Moreover, metabolic rates, which are often overlooked in thermal comfort studies for the elderly, play a crucial role. A year-long survey of thermal comfort was conducted in the rural areas of Weihai, a coastal city in China's cold region, collecting 203 questionnaires. Three different values of metabolic rates (recommended values, estimated values, and values calculated using Basal Metabolic Rate and Physical Activity Ratio) were analyzed. The results demonstrate that the Basal Metabolic Rate and Physical Activity Ratio method provides predictions of thermal sensation that more closely align with actual thermal sensations. The adaptive coefficient of the aPMV model was found to be −0.38 in colder environments and 0.272 in warmer ones. Additionally, using PMV regression, TSV regression, and Griffiths' method, we calculated the local elderly's comfort temperatures to be 18.9 °C (15.43–22.57 °C), 19.3 °C (15.16–22.75 °C), and 21.63 °C (21.34–23.49 °C) respectively. This study introduces a straightforward method for calculating metabolic rates in elderly individuals, offering new insights for research on thermal comfort in the elderly and expanding the database for thermal comfort studies. It lays a foundation for future design and standardization of housing for rural elderly populations.

제주 농촌 노인의 자아통합감 증진을 위한 회상기법 기반 집단상담 프로그램 개발

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a reminiscence-based group counseling program to enhance ego integrity in elderly individuals living in rural areas of Jeju. The program sought to improve participants' psychological well-being and quality of life through reflective practices. Methods: For this study, an eight-session program was developed using reminiscence-based media, including salt, clay, and collage. The program encouraged participants to reflect on their life experiences, promoting emotional expression and introspection. Data were collected through participant feedback and psychological assessments before and after the intervention. Results: The results demonstrated significant improvements in ego integrity among the participants. Enhanced psychological stability and social integration were observed as a result of the supportive environment created in the group counseling sessions. Conclusions: Participants benefited from the program by fostering a greater sense of ego integrity, emotional well-being, and social support. The findings suggest that reminiscence-based group counseling can significantly contribute to the psychological health of rural elderly populations. Future studies should explore its long-term effects and broader applicability across diverse demographics.

Land use policy implications of demographic shifts: Analyzing the impact of aging rural populations on agricultural carbon emissions in China

China is facing a unique demographic challenge with its population entering a phase of negative growth, alongside the growing issue of Rural Population Aging (RPA). This has brought significant attention to the broader population challenges the country is encountering. While the aging of rural populations has been a focal point of discussion, there remains a need for deeper insights into how it specifically impacts Agricultural Carbon Emissions (ACE). To address this knowledge gap, this study has devised a research framework grounded in the human-land relationships theory. This framework seeks to analyze the influence of RPA on ACE. Empirical tests have been carried out using provincial (municipal) panel data spanning from 2002 to 2019. The study's findings indicate that RPA exacerbates ACE, particularly in regions with a pronounced aging rural demographic. However, this adverse effect is lessened in coastal areas and placed with a lighter rural aging phenomenon. Additionally, the negative impact gradually diminishes in the long term. From a land utilization perspective, RPA contributes to Land Misallocation (LM), serving as a critical conduit through which RPA influences ACE. Nevertheless, mitigating factors such as Land Transfer (LT) and Land Scale (LS) help alleviate this negative influence. This mitigation is more pronounced in the long run. In the context of smallholder farmers, the study suggests that a moderate-scale expansion and the promotion of new agricultural models can be instrumental in achieving broader agricultural carbon reduction targets.

The Effect of Social Support on Self-Rated Health in a Rural Elderly Population: With Depression Level as a Mediating Variable

To explore the relationship between social support, depression level, and self-rated health in rural elderly groups, this paper, based on the 2020 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey data, first, used the Ordinal Logit regression model and propensity score matching to assess the relationship between social support and self-rated health in rural elderly groups. Secondly, stepwise regression analysis was used to test the role of depression level in the relationship between emotional social support, material social support, and self-assessed health. Lastly, the magnitude of the mediating effect was further tested using KHB decomposition. The results showed that both emotional and material social support had a significant positive effect on the self-assessed health of the rural elderly. Depression level mediated the relationship between emotional social support, material social support, and self-rated health of rural elderly groups, and the type and size of the mediating effect were related to the type of social support. Based on these findings, this paper makes several recommendations.

Prevalence and factors associated with depression among the elderly in rural areas of central India: a mixed method study

Background: The global demographic shift towards an aging population has raised concerns about the mental health of the elderly, particularly in rural areas. This study sought to tackle this issue by quantitatively evaluating the prevalence of geriatric depression in rural areas of central India and qualitatively investigating the factors that contribute to late-life depression. Methods: This mixed-method study conducted in the rural areas of central India aimed to assess the prevalence of depression among the elderly and explore gender-specific factors contributing to late-life depression. Results: Quantitative data were collected from 308 elderly individuals aged 60 years and above, revealing a high prevalence of depressive symptoms (75.6%). Factors significantly associated with depression included female gender, age over 70 years, lower educational attainment, financial dependency, and comorbidities. Qualitative analysis through focus group discussions highlighted gender-specific perceptions of depression risk factors, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions. Conclusions: The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions addressing socio-economic disparities and gender-specific challenges in rural elderly populations. A nuanced, gender-sensitive approach is crucial for promoting well-being and reducing the burden of depression among the elderly in rural central India.

Home Activity Recognition for Rural Elderly Based on Deep Learning and Smartphone Sensors

With the exacerbation of the rural aging population trend, home-based health monitoring for the rural elderly has become a societal focal point, demanding an effective technological means to elevate the level of rural elderly health management. However, traditional algorithms for monitoring rural elderly behavior face myriad challenges, such as effectively capturing temporal and spatial features. Consequently, addressing the need to enhance the accuracy and robustness of rural elderly behavior recognition has become an urgent problem to solve. This study responds to this challenge by comprehensively employing deep learning and temporal modeling techniques, designing, and validating a short-term and long-term dual-layer home-based health monitoring system for the rural elderly.In the short-term layer, the model utilizes smartphones to collect health information from the rural elderly in various ways and performs real-time anomaly behavior detection.

Could the Aging of the Rural Population Boost Green Agricultural Total Factor Productivity? Evidence from China

The aging of the rural population is one of the important social problems facing China and the world. To provide strategic support for coping with the challenges brought by an aging society, this study examined the impact of aging of the rural population on agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) and the mechanism of transmission between them, based on the panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2022. The results showed that, first, the aging of the rural population had a negative inhibitory effect on AGTFP, a conclusion that remained valid after a series of robustness tests. Second, the heterogeneity analysis showed that the aging of the rural population in western China had a significant negative impact on AGTFP, while the effect was less significant in eastern and central regions. The intensity of environmental regulation will increase the negative impact of an aging rural population on AGTFP. Third, the analysis of the mechanism showed that the aging of the rural population had a negative impact on AGTFP by inhibiting labor productivity, scientific research and innovation, and farmland transfer.

Early-life famine exposure may modify the association between long-term temperature variability and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases: a nationwide study

Abstract Background We aimed to evaluate whether the association between long-term temperature variability (TV) and CCVDs was affected by famine exposure in different age stages. 
Methods We used data from the fourth national Urban and Rural Elderly Population survey (2015). Participants were categorized into six groups based on their age at famine exposure (famine exposure under age 5, between ages 5 and 18, and during adulthood) and the severity (severely affected areas versus mildly affected areas) of the Great Chinese Famine (1959-1961) in their province of residence. Mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to quantify the association between long-term TV and the prevalence of CCVDs across six famine-exposed groups.
Findings A total of 222,179 participants were included. In severely affected areas, the odds ratio (OR) of CCVDs associated with per 1°C increase in 5-year average TV were 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 1.13) for those exposed to famine during adulthood, 1.28 (95% CI: 1.17, 1.40) under the age of 5 years. Urban residence, higher education, increased household income, and more frequent physical activity could mitigate the association between TV and CCVDs, particularly among those exposed to severe famine before the age of 5.
Conclusion Individuals exposed to famine before the age of 5 are more susceptible to TV-related CCVDs compared to those exposed during adulthood. Our findings highlight the importance of early-life nutrition in lowering susceptibility to CCVDs later in life.

National-scale 10-m maps of cropland use intensity in China during 2018–2023

The amount of actively cultivated land in China is increasingly threatened by rapid urbanization and rural population aging. Quantifying the extent and changes of active cropland and cropping intensity is crucial to global food security. However, national-scale datasets for smallholder agriculture are limited in spatiotemporal continuity, resolution, and precision. In this paper, we present updated annual Cropland Use Intensity maps in China (China-CUI10m) with descriptions of the extent of fallow/abandoned, actively cropped fields and cropping intensity at a 10-m resolution in recent six years (2018–2023). The dataset is produced by robust algorithms with no requirements for regional adjustments or intensive training samples, which take full advantage of the Sentinel-1 (S1) SAR and Sentinel-2 (S2) MSI time series. The China-CUI10m maps have achieved high accuracy when compared to ground truth data (Overall accuracy = 90.88%) and statistical data (R2 > 0.94). This paper provides the recent trends in cropland abandonment and agricultural intensification in China, which contributes to facilitating geographic-targeted cropland use control policies towards sustainable intensification of smallholder agricultural systems in developing countries.

Cognition, physical function, and life purpose in the rural elderly population: A systematic review protocol.

Aging in rural settings worldwide, from the perspective of cognition, physical function, and life purpose essential constructs for a prosperous old age, still needs comprehensive discussion. This systematic review protocol aims to highlight the prevalence of cognitive decline, physical functioning, and life purpose in older adults aging in rural community settings. We will include cross-sectional studies published until April 2023 found in 8 databases: Embase, MEDLINE, LILACS, PsycINFO, Scopus, SciELO, and Web of Science. Ryyan software will be used for the first selection, and the Observational Study Quality Evaluation (OSQE) will assess methodological quality and risk of bias. Primary analysis will involve titles and abstracts using MeSH descriptors such as "Physical functioning," "Cognition," "Cognitive function," "Life purpose," "Elderly," "Older," "Rural aging," "Rural population," "Communities, rural," "Distribution, rural spatial," "Medium communities," "Rural settlement," "Small community." If necessary, secondary analysis will include a complete reading of selected articles by two blinded reviewers, confirmed by a third person. Publication bias will be assessed using cross-sectional analytical study quality. Sensitivity analyses will identify manuscripts significantly influencing combined prevalence of endpoints.

Assessment of Nutritional Status And Functional Capacity of Rural Elderly Population In Chattogram, Bangladesh

Background: Bangladesh, like many developing countries, is experiencing population ageing. There is inadequate information regarding the prevalence of malnutrition and functional dependency in community-living rural senior residents in this country. The study aims to determine the nutritional status and functional capacity of the rural elderly population of Chattogram District of Bangladesh and to search for its associated factors. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study included 213 subjects aged 60 years and over from two Upazilla of Chattogram district by a multistage random sampling technique. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire, nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNASF) tool and functional assessment was done using the Modified Barthel self-care index (BSI).Results: The participants’ mean age was 66.1 ± 6.5 years and 51.6 % was female. More than half of the participants (45.4%) were illiterate. The majority of them were living in a joint family with their spouse. About 70% of the participants were from lower socioeconomic classes, 82.2% were not engaged in any vocational activity, 74.6% were entirely dependent economically on others, and 110 (51.6%) had multi- morbidity. The prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition were 29.9% and 56.8% of the study sample, respectively. About 44% of the participants need help to perform their daily activities. Poor nutritional status was significantly more frequent in elderly subjects aged more than 70 years, in respondents living without a partner, and in older people with multi-morbidity. Conclusion: Poor nutritional status was commonly observed among older adults living in rural areas in Chattogram. The associated factors should be further considered for targeting particularly vulnerable individuals. Bangladesh J Medicine 2024; 35: 76-81

The Impact of Rural Population Aging on Agricultural Cropping Structure: Evidence from China’s Provinces

Agricultural cropping structure is related to the quality of the agricultural supply system and is a key element of the structural reform of the agricultural supply side. Based on China’s provincial panel data from 2000 to 2021, this paper empirically examines the impact and mechanism of rural population aging on the planting structure of food and cash crops by using a two-way fixed-effects model, which fills the gap in the research on the impact mechanism of the rural population aging on agricultural planting structure. The conclusions of the study show that: as the aging of the rural population deepens, the proportion of food crops planted will further increase, while the proportion of cash crops planted will decrease; agricultural mechanization will promote the further increase of the proportion of food crops planted while the proportion of cash crops planted will decrease in the deepening of the aging of rural population; the aging of the rural population has a more significant impact on the structure of agricultural planting in the eastern region and does not have a significant impact on the central and western provinces. The aging of the rural population has a significant impact on the agricultural planting structure in the eastern region, but not in the central and western provinces. This paper argues that we should fully respect the willingness of agricultural management subjects to choose planting varieties, increase the research, development, and promotion of agricultural machinery, continuously improve the level of farmers’ human capital, and further enhance the degree of organization, scale, and specialization of agricultural production.

IJCM_338A: Burden Of Common Mental Health Disorders Using GHQ-12 Scale Among The Tribal And Rural Elderly Population In Mysore District.

Background: Common mental disorders (CMD) are a group of distress states manifesting with anxiety, depressive, and unexplained somatic symptoms and are the contemporary equivalent to the older concept of neurotic disorders. Various prevalence studies have shown that elderly population are more vulnerable to such mental health disorders as compared to the younger population. The available literature indicates that there is hardly any effort to understand the morbidity and the needs of such elderly people. Objective: i. To estimate the burden of common mental disorders among tribal and rural elderly population using GHQ -12. ii. To estimate the association between common mental disorders and sociodemographic factors. Methodology: This is a community based cross sectional study. It was among the tribal and rural elderly population of Mysore district from June to September 2023 using General Health Questionnairre-12(GHQ-12). The 12-Item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is the most extensively used screening instrument for common mental disorders. The GHQ-12 has generally demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity in various populations. The sampling method adopted for this study was multistage sampling and in the final stage participants were selected using simple random sampling Results: The prevalence of common mental disorders was 35% among rural elderly population and 43% among tribal elderly population. The prevalence of common mental disorders was found to be high among women in both rural and tribal elderly population and the difference was found to be statistically significant Conclusion: There are limitations in the study as cross-sectional type of study design was used. Further, analytical studies can be conducted to prove the causative association between common mental disorders and various socio- cultural factor. However, the findings of the study can be used to plan the necessary interventions in the field of elderly mental health

IJCM_98A: Prevalence of Non-Communicable disease in Geriatrics population of Kalaburagi District: A Cross-sectional Study in Rural Field Practice Area.

Background: Worldwide total population of geriatric was 703 million (9%) in year 2019 according to United Nation report. The geriatric population is estimated to increase to 198 million by 2030 in India. With advancing years, the incidence of communicable and non-communicable disease (NCD) increases. Most of the available studies on morbidity in India are disease specific and fail to provide comprehensive knowledge about NCD. Objectives :1. To estimate prevalence of non-communicable disease (NCD) in elderly. 2. To assess the risk factor associated with non-communicable disease. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among geriatric people in rural areas of Kalaburagi district, Karnataka. Study participants consisted of age =60 years were comprised in the study and a sample size of 193 was calculated. Pre-designed, pre-tested and semi- structured questionnaire was used to collect information on risk factor and morbidity status of study participants. Data was computed in Microsoft 2013 excel sheets and using SPSS version 25.0 for utilizing appropriate statistical method to calculate frequency and percentage, chi square test fisher extract test were used to find association. Results: Hypertension is the most prevalent morbidity NCD in the rural elderly population found to be 41.45% in Kalaburagi CHC Rajapur. Followed by diabetes 24.35% and other disease 1.62%. Alcohol and Chewing tobacco found to have significant associations in disease causation in the elderly population. Environment like Water Supply, Latrine, Socio-Economic Class found to be having significant association in disease causation in the elderly population. Conclusion: As age advances morbidity increases has been shown in the study. Lifestyle modification also show statistically significant association. Prevalence of NCD like Hypertension, Diabetes, MI, etc can be prevented by reduction of the high-risk factor such as Lifestyle changes, Diet Modification, and Changing Habits of alcohol and tobacco.

Assessment of Dependency in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and its Predictors: A Cross-Sectional Study among the Elderly Rural Population in a Sub-Himalayan UT of India.

With an increase in life expectancy over the last few decades, there has been a parallel increase in the prevalence of disabilities among the elderly population. To estimate the prevalence of dependency in activities of daily living (ADL) and its predictors among the rural elderly population. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in the community among the rural geriatric population in the field practice area of PG Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Jammu. The Barthel Scale Index was used to measure ADL dependency. PSPP software was used to analyze the data. The mean age of study participants was 68.31 ± 7.9 years. ADL dependency was observed in 46.3% of the subjects, with the majority demonstrating mild to moderate dependence. Only 2.5% of the respondents reported a severe degree of ADL dependence. The mean ADL score was 94.47 ± 8.98. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, age, educational status, the presence of stress in the family, personal history, and the presence of co-morbidities emerged to be independent predictors of ADL dependence. High prevalence of physical disability in the geriatric population is now an area of major concern. This emphasizes the significance of setting up geriatric care centers especially in rural areas preferably integrating with health and wellness centers.

Influence of social pension on well‐being and health of the rural elderly: the case of South Korea

This study examines whether a social pension for the elderly population affects the well‐being and health of older adults in rural areas and whether pensions are more effective in rural areas than in urban areas. Using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing, we exploit a difference‐in‐difference specification that compares changes in well‐being and health in rural areas for those who are 65 or older relative to the younger population before and after a pension reform. We also consider a triple‐difference specification to investigate the rural–urban difference. The results reveal that the expansion of the social pension significantly improved cognitive function and alleviated depressive symptoms among the rural elderly, but it had little impact on well‐being or other health measures such as subjective health status. We also find that this impact has been more effective in rural than in urban areas. Our findings suggest that social pensions can be crucial in enhancing cognitive functioning and mental health for rural elderly individuals and emphasise the effectiveness of pensions for rural elderly populations.

Prevalence of Loneliness in Older Adults in Rural Population and Its Association with Depression and Caregiver Abuse.

Loneliness in the elderly is of public health importance as it is a risk factor for adverse consequences. There is lack of data on loneliness among the elderly population of India, especially those residing in a rural community. To estimate loneliness and its association with depression and caregiver abuse. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural health clinic in North India. 125 elderly persons were evaluated on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Geriatric Depression Rating Scale‑30 (GDS), and Caregiver Abuse Screening (CASE) scale. 67.6 years was the mean age of the study's subjects, with a mean number of years of education of 2.9. Most were female, married, and from lower socioeconomic status and belonged to a non-nuclear family. The prevalence of loneliness was 66.4%. Regarding specific features, subjects reported a lack of companionship (64.8%), being left out in life (45.2%), and being isolated from others (52.8%). The severity of depression, somatization, psychological and physical abuse, neglect abuse, and caregiver abuse had a significant positive association with loneliness. Those with a presence of loneliness scored higher on GDS and CASE than those without. Those who were single at the time of the study reported significantly more loneliness than married ones. Those from nuclear families and middle socioeconomic status reported a significantly higher level of loneliness. Loneliness among the elderly rural population is significantly high. The severity of loneliness is associated with higher severity of depression, somatization, and caregiver abuse.