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Loneliness Among Older Adults in Latin America, China, and India: Prevalence, Correlates and Association With Mortality

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Matthew Prina

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Copyright © 2021 Gao, Prina, Prince, Acosta, Luisa Sosa, Guerra, Huang, Jimenez-Velazquez, Llibre Rodriguez, Salas, Williams, Liu, Acosta Castillo and Mayston. Objectives: This study was designed to explore prevalence and correlates of self-reported loneliness and to investigate whether loneliness predicts mortality among older adults (aged 65 or above) in Latin America, China and India. Methods: The study investigated population-based cross-sectional (2003-2007) and longitudinal surveys (follow-up 2007-2010) from the 10/66 Dementia Research Group project. Poisson regression and Cox regression analyses were conducted to analyse correlates of loneliness and its association with mortality. Results: The standardised prevalence of loneliness varied between 25.3 and 32.4% in Latin America and was 18.3% in India. China showed a low prevalence of loneliness (3.8%). In pooled meta-analyses, there was robust evidence to support an association between loneliness and mortality across Latin American countries (HR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.26, I2 = 10.1%) and China (HR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.03-2.41), but there were no associations in India. Conclusion: Our findings suggest potential cultural variances may exist in the concept of loneliness in older age. The effect of loneliness upon mortality is consistent across different cultural settings excluding India. Loneliness should therefore be considered as a potential dimension of public health among older populations.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Gao Q, Prina AM, Prince M, Acosta D, Luisa Sosa A, Guerra M, Huang Y, Jimenez-Velazquez IZ, Llibre Rodriguez JJ, Salas A, Williams JD, Liu Z, Acosta Castillo I, Mayston R

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Public Health

Year: 2021

Volume: 66

Online publication date: 31/03/2021

Acceptance date: 02/02/2021

Date deposited: 16/03/2023

ISSN (print): 1661-8556

ISSN (electronic): 1661-8564

Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation

URL: https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2021.604449

DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2021.604449

PubMed id: 34744572


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Alzheimer’s Disease International
GR066133
GR08002
IIRG-04-1286
United States Alzheimer’s Association
World Health Organization
Wellcome Trust Health Consequences of Population Change Program

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