The Relationships between Living Arrangements and Cognitive Function among the Community Elderly in Taiwan

Ya-Ting Wu ； Chien-Chu Lu ； Chi-Hua Yen

《台灣老年醫學暨老年學雜誌》 9卷2期 (2014/05) Pp. 42-42(2)

並列摘要

Objective: Differences in family structure and living arrangements will influence people's life and mental health. The research will discuss that the relationships between living arrangements and cognitive function among the community elderly in Taiwan. Methods: Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of ＂Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan＂ in 1999 and 2007. The study population included the elderly (aged 65 and over) without living in any healthcare organization or change in living arrangements from 1999 to 2007. They were divided into three groups based on living arrangements: living with spouse, living alone and living with nonspouse others. By the ANOVA to find the difference of SPMSQ (short portable mental status questionnaire) scores and change in cognitive status. Finally, logistic regression analysis was used to examine the related factors associated with cognitive decline. Results: A total of 1029 subjects were collated for final analysis while living with spouse, living alone and living with nonspouse others were 628, 70 and 331 subjects, respectively. The results revealed the prevalence of cognitive impairment among three group, the highest is living with nonspouse others (1999: 18.4%; 2007: 39.5%) and the lowest is living with spouse (1999: 5.7%; 2007: 19.6%). In addition, the prevalence of cognitive decline in 1999 and 2007, the highest is living with nonspouse others (23.8%) and the lowest is living with spouse (12.4%). Based on the result of logistic regression analysis, older age (OR=1.084, 95% CI=1.041-1.130), female (OR=1.904, 95% CI=1.196-3.033), single (OR=1.845, 95% CI=1.008 - 3.377) and living with nonspouse others (OR=2.021, 95% CI=1.118 - 3.655) emerged as risk factors for cognitive decline. Conclusion: The community elderly living with spouse in Taiwan have less cognitive impairment and slower cognitive decline. Besides, living with nonspouse others is an independent risk factor for cognitive decline.

並列關鍵字

community elderly ； living arrangements ； cognitive impairment ； cognitive decline