中国青海省高地高齢者における老年医学的総合機能評価

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the association of comprehensive health of elderly highlanders in Qinghai in China with biological and cultural adaptation to hypoxic environment. Methods: Activities of daily living (ADL), screening-based depression, quality of life (QOL) and checking-up of metabolic syndrome including community-based oral glucose tolerance test were assessed in 393 community-dwelling elderly subjects in Haiyuan and 219 Tibetan highlanders in YuShyu. Results: Tibetan elderly highlanders were more disabled in ADL, but had higher QOL than Han elderly ones in Haiyuan. Blood pressure measurements, rate of hypertension and hemoglobin concentrations in Tibetan elderly highlanders were lower than Han ones in Haiyuan. Despite of lower ADLs, subjective QOLs in Tibenatn elderly was higher than Han elderly in Haiyuan. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher and scores in ADL was lower in Tibetan elderly in YuShyu than those in Haiyuan. Conclusion: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in elderly highlanders in Haiyuan was not still high even now, however, that in YuShyu was increasing. Further investigation on physiological adaptability to hypoxic environment and human ageing phenomena in global context may open new research frontier for ageing science.