Current status of chronic constipation, sleep disturbances and olfactory disorders in the elderly of Chinese residents / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the current status and distribution characteristics of chronic constipation,sleep disturbances and olfactory disorders in Chinese elderly.Methods In 2010,the 3rd Chronic Non-communicable Disease & Risk Factor Surveillance in China was conducted in 31 provinces and Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps.42 668 Chinese aged over 60 years in 98 548 households were randomly selected from 162 National Disease Surveillance Points (DSPs) by a stratified multistage cluster sampling.All subjects received a set of standardized questionnaire and interview.After a complex weighing,the differences in the prevalence of constipation,sleep disturbances and olfactory disorders were investigated among the residents with different genders,ages,urban or rural areas and regions.Results In all subjects aged over 60 years,the general prevalence of self-reported constipation was 5.06 ％,which increased with age.The general prevalence of self-reported constipation was higher in females than in males (5.80％ vs.4.27％,x2 =21.78,P＜0.05),higher in urban areas than in the rural areas (6.04％ vs.4.58％,x2 =5.66,P＜0.05),and there were no significant differences among residents in eastern,central,and western regions.The general prevalence of self-reported sleep disturbances was 14.19％,which increased with age.The general prevalence of self-reported sleep disturbances was higher in females than in males (17.27％ vs.10.94％,x2 =165.53,P＜0.05),and there were no significant differences among residents in urban and rural areas or in different regions.The general prevalence of self-reported olfactory disorders was 8.49％,which increased with age.The general prevalence of self-reported olfactory disorders was higher in females than in males (9.36％ vs.7.58％,x2 =22.32,P＜0.05).There were significant differences in the prevalence of self-reported olfactory disorders among residents in eastern,central and western regions (6.98％,8.28％ and 11.00％,x2 =6.66,all P＜0.05 respectively),and no significant difference was found between residents in urban and rural areas.Conclusions The prevalences of self-reported constipation,sleep disturbances and olfactory disorders are increased with age and significantly more common among women in Chinese elderly residents.