Health-related quality of life among elderly individuals living alone in an urban area of Shaanxi Province, China: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL), sex differences in HRQoL, and factors affecting the HRQoL of elderly people living alone in urban areas of Shaanxi Province, China. METHODS: A cohort was obtained using multistage stratified cluster random sampling. We collected cross-sectional data using surveys. HRQoL was measured using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Multivariable multilevel linear regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with mental and physical health component summary scores. RESULTS: Overall, 442 elderly Chinese individuals who lived alone completed the survey (mean age 73 years, women: 59%). Women were more likely to report better mental health than men. Factors significantly associated with reduced mental health scores were older age, having never been married or being divorced, and having a history of cancer, urinary tract disease, fractures or gastrointestinal disorders. Factors associated with physical health were having never been married or being divorced and having hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe HRQoL in a representative sample of elderly people living alone in urban areas of Shaanxi, China. Poor physical and mental HRQoL in this elderly Chinese population was mainly associated with chronic diseases and demographic factors.