Healthy life expectancy of Thai elderly: did it improve during the soap-bubble economic period?

Healthy life expectancy (HLE) of Thai elderly was studied to clarify the health benefit for the elderly population in Thailand during the soap-bubble economic period by comparing their HLE and life expectancy (LE) in 1986 and 1995. The information on the perceived health status of Thai elderly, aged 60 and over, from two national surveys in 1986 and 1995 and the life tables of correspondent years were used for calculating healthy life expectancy. Both life expectancy (LE) and healthy life expectancy (HLE) of Thai elderly have markedly increased between 1986 and 1995. Regardless of sex, the HLE-LE ratios of nearly all age groups increased from 1986 to 1995. This suggests that the unhealthy life duration had been compressed. Women spend more years than men both active and inactive at every age; however, the proportion of life that is expected to be active is less for women. In conclusion, health and well-being of Thai elderly population significantly improved during the soap-bubble economic period (1989-1996) of Thailand.

Factors associated with state hospital utilisation among Thai elderly who had illnesses which needed hospitalisation.

Of the 4,480 elderly subjects in a multistage random sampling household survey of a National Survey of the Welfare of the Elderly in Thailand (SWET), 669 (14.9%) reported that they had been hospitalised during the last year and were recruited in an analysis which aimed to examine associated factors of state hospital utilisation among Thai elderly. Seventy eight per cent had been admitted once during the last year. Mean (standard deviation) duration of hospital stay during the last year was 11.9 (20.1) days. For the last period of hospitalisation, 532 elderly (79.5%) were admitted to state hospitals. One hundred and nineteen elderlies (17.8%) used private hospitals. Only 18 elderly (2.3%) used both state and private hospitals. According to the causes of hospitalisation, the elderly who used state hospitals were not more severely ill than those who used private hospitals. Nine univariate factors associated with state hospital utilisation were entered in a logistric regression model in which five independent determinants were identified including 'do not have electricity', 'heads of the family are not their children', 'do not have own savings', 'live in rural area', and 'have heard about free health care programme'. The Ministry of Public Health and organisations which are concerned with the elderly should allocate more resources to advertising a free health care programme for Thai elderly.

Falls and their associated factors: a national survey of the Thai elderly.

Of the 7,713 subjects aged 50 and over in a multistage random sampling national survey of Thailand, 4,480 Thai elders aged 60 and over were interviewed in a study which aimed to determine rate, characteristics and the associated factors of falls in the last six months. Eight hundred and thirty-six elders (18.7%) had one or more falls. Female elders (21.5%) fell more often than their male counterparts (14.4%). There was no association between age and falls among Thai elder population. Most of the falls occurred outside (65%) and during the day time (85%). Multiple regression analysis showed that independent factors associated with falls among male elder were a bad or fairly bad health, reported hypertension, problems with walking in the house, problems with crouching and a lack of electricity in the house. Independent factors associated with falls among female elders were a bad or fairly bad health, joint problems, illness which made her unable to have normal activities during the last year, problems with crouching, going to buy food everyday, very lonely feeling, having less than 3 meals a day, a lack of electricity in the house and living in a Thai style house or hut. This study revealed that environmental and intrinsic health factors which affected balance and gait were the main factors associated with falls among Thai elders. Nutritional status as a contributing factor to falling among elderly women was also suggested.