Octogenarians in rural and urban settings: Socioeconomic comparison, morbidities and quality of life

Abstract

This cross-sectional, observational, analytical study compared socioeconomic variables, self-reported morbidity and quality of life of octogenarians resident in Uberaba, 326 in the urban and 74 in the rural area. Data was collected in 2008 and 2010, using BOMFAQ, WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD. Descriptive analysis, chi-square and Student t-tests, and multiple linear and logistic regressions (p<0.05) were applied. Octogenarians were predominantly women in urban areas and men in rural areas. Marital status and education were associated with place of residence. Octogenarians in the urban area had poorer health and scored lower in the physical and social relations domains and in the autonomy and past, present and future activities facets, while rural octogenarians scored lower in the environment domain and sensorial functioning facet. These results may support specific health measures for this population, considering the peculiarities of the environment they live in.