Activities of daily living and their influencing factors among Chinese older adults with hearing disability

  Objective  To analyze the status and influencing factors of activities of daily living (ADL) among Chinese elderly with disabling hearing impairment.

  Methods  Data of this study were derived from the Second National Sample Survey on Disability in China in 2006. Totally 29 495 older persons aged 60 years and above and with only hearing disability were involved in the analysis. Chi-square test and unconditional binary logistic regression were utilized to explore the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of ADL loss among the elderly with hearing disability. SPSS 20.0 software for Windows was used to conduct statistical analysis.

  Results  The prevalence rate for ADL loss among the elderly with hearing disability was 23.62%, varying by individual characteristics and socio-economic status. The prevalence rate of ADL loss increased with age. Severer hearing impairment (odds ratioOR = 2.97, 95% confidence interval 95%CI: 2.68 – 3.29) was correlated to the increased ADL loss; while, residing in rural area (OR = 0.86, 95%CI = 0.79 – 0.95) and eastern region (OR = 0.59, 95%CI: 0.55 – 0.63), higher education attainment (senior high school: OR = 0.62, 95%CI = 0.53 – 0.7) and family average income lower than the national average (OR = 1.17, 95%CI: 1.08 – 1.28) were associated less risk of ADL loss among the elderly.

  Conclusion  Hearing impairment is associated with contextual factors including individual and environmental factors which may result in activity limitation at individual level among Chinese elderly.