Impact of income inequalities on subjective perception of older adult health: An analysis of healthy life expectancy in China from 1997 to 2006.

Publisher: Japan Geriatrics Society Country of Publication: Japan NLM ID: 101135738 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1447-0594 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14470594 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Geriatr Gerontol Int Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: [Tokyo, Japan] : Carlton, Vic., Australia : Japan Geriatrics Society ; Blackwell Science, c2001-

Healthy Life Expectancy* ; Health Status Disparities*; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Aged ; Income ; Life Expectancy ; China/epidemiology ; Perception

Aim: Driven by rapid socioeconomic development over recent decades, there are widening income inequalities and subjective health disparities among older adults in China. This study explored the relationship between income inequalities and self-rated healthy life expectancy (HLE) considering potential sex-specific differences.
Methods: From a cohort of 1760 individuals aged ≥60 years from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997-2006), we calculated age-specific life expectancy (LE), HLE and the proportion of HLE to LE (HLE/LE) by sex using the IMaCh software, incorporated time-varying income levels of older adults.
Results: Although longevity has significantly improved, the well-being of Chinese older adults could be further enhanced by assessing HLE, as the results showed that at age 60 years, ~20% of their LE was characterized by unhealthiness. Discriminated by economic status, lower-income individuals experienced worse self-rated health compared with the general population and affluent counterparts. For instance, at age 60 years, the LE, HLE and HLE/LE of low-income men were 19.8 (95% CI 18.4-21.1), 16.2 years (95% CI 15.0-17.5) and 81.8%, respectively, lower than their general (21.7, 95% CI: 20.4-23.0; 18.0, 95% CI 16.8-19.2; and 82.9%) and high-income counterparts (25.1, 95% CI 23.1-27.2; 21.4, 95% CI 19.5-23.3; and 85.3%). Sex disparities were noticeable among low-income individuals in HLE/LE, with low-income women showing the most significant disadvantage.
Conclusions: Income inequalities exacerbated subjective health disparities among older adults, particularly among lower-income individuals and women. Our findings carry significant implications for formulating public health and social welfare strategies, especially in nations grappling with an aging population and undergoing parallel socioeconomic development. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 109-115.
(© 2023 Japan Geriatrics Society.)

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17ZDA124 National Social Science Funds of China; 21&ZD186 National Social Science Funds of China; 23ARK003 National Social Science Funds of China

Keywords: gender differences; household income; older adults; self-rated health; socioeconomic development

Date Created: 20231212 Date Completed: 20240105 Latest Revision: 20240105

20240105

10.1111/ggi.14768

38086009