Prevalence and effect factors of dementia among the community elderly in Chongqing, China.

BACKGROUND: China is an ageing society, with around 150 million people aged 60 years or older. The prevalence of dementia will increase by more than 100% in the coming 20 years. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and effects of dementia among the community elderly in Chongqing, China.

METHODS: Cluster sampling was adopted. A sample of elderly individuals aged 60 years and older was extracted as research subjects from three counties within Chongqing, China. One-on-one interviews were conducted through a general information questionnaire, and the Mini-Mental State Examination, Instrumental Activity of Daily Living Scale, and Geriatric Depression Scale were administered. The investigated data were tested by χ2 , and the effect factors of dementia were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: We distributed 1850 questionnaire, and the response rate was 100%. However, only 1781 questionnaires were able to be used in the study. Of the 1781 elderly respondents, 186 (10.44%) presented with dementia. Our findings revealed that differences in regions, age, marital status, education level, occupation, tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption, freshwater fish consumption, exercise, intensive labour, mah-jong- and chess-playing habits, media consumption (i.e. watching TV, listening to the radio, or reading the newspaper), body mass index, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and depression were statistically significant in the prevalence of dementia (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: According to multiple logistic regression analyses, living in a rural area, older age, being single, obesity, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and depression are risk factors for dementia. In contrast, cessation of smoking, freshwater fish consumption, moderate or frequent exercise, intensive labour, daily housework, outdoor activities, media consumption, and social activities are protective factors against dementia among community elderly in Chongqing, China.