Previous studies have focused on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in hypertensive individuals, but few studies have attempted to compare HRQoL between hypertensive and normotensive individuals using the EQ-5D in China. Based on a survey of 3509 adults aged 18 + years, we compared HRQoL between hypertensive and normotensive individuals using a chi-square test, t-test and multi-linear regression model. The results indicated that HRQoL in hypertensive individuals was poorer than that of normotensive individuals in all domains of the EQ-5D and its utility index. In addition, education, complications, household income, and family history of HBP were associated with HRQoL among the hypertensive patients. Factors including age, education, household income, health expenditure, place of residence, and family history of high blood pressure (HBP) were found to be associated with HRQoL in normotensive individuals. Interventions targeting at-risk subgroups, such as modifying existing health insurance schemes to improve them for poor individuals, might be helpful to improve HRQoL.

The health impact of airborne particulate matter (PM) has long been a concern to clinicians, biologists, and the general public. With many epidemiological studies confirming the association of PM with allergic respiratory diseases, an increasing number of follow-up empirical studies are being conducted to investigate the mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of PM on asthma and allergic rhinitis. In this review, we have briefly introduced the characteristics of PM and discussed its effects on public health. Subsequently, we have focused on recent studies to elucidate the association between PM and the allergic symptoms of human respiratory diseases. Specifically, we have discussed the mechanism of action of PM in allergic respiratory diseases according to different subtypes: coarse PM (PM2.5-10), fine PM (PM2.5), and ultrafine PM.

IntroductionInstitutional care has been strongly promoted in China to meet seniors’ long-term care needs. Empty-nest elderly, in comparison with their counterparts, have less social support and fewer caring networks. This study aimed to compare the utilisation willingness for institutional care and its predictors between empty-nest and non-empty-nest seniors.MethodsA total of 3923 seniors were included in the analysis. Binary logistic regression models were used to understand the association between the living arrangements of the elderly households and willingness for institutional care and to identify the predictors of the utilisation willingness for institutional care among empty nesters and non-empty nesters.ResultsOur study found that approximately 8.5% of the seniors had a willingness for institutional care in Shandong, China. Empty-nest singles (OR 5.301; 95% CI 2.838 to 9.904) and empty-nest couples (OR 1.547; 95% CI 1.135 to 2.107) were found to be more willing to receive institutional care. Our results also showed that residence was a key determinant for institutionalisation willingness in empty-nest and non-empty-nest elderly. Among empty-nest singles, psychological stress was a positive determinant for institutional care. Factors, including education attainment, relationship with adult children, household income and per capita living space, were determinants for empty-nest couple willingness for institutionalisation. Age, number of children and self-reported health status were found to be associated factors for willingness among non-empty nesters.ConclusionsThe government should pay more attention to institutional care in rural areas where there is still a gap in elder care compared with that in urban areas. Targeted policies should be made for different types of seniors to offer appropriate institutional care.

BackgroundWith the implementation of Chinese economic reform and rapid urbanization, policies and values surrounding migration have changed and given rise to unprecedented population mobility. This study is designed to examine the effect of Hukou origin on establishment of health records among internal migrants in China.MethodsThe data used for this study are from the 2015 National Internal Migrant Population Dynamic Monitoring Survey, covering 112,782 migrants nationwide. For continuous variables, the p value is calculated using Student t test; for categorical variables, the p value is calculated using chi-square test. Binary logistic regression with an enter method is employed to assess the association of establishment of health records with origin residence.ResultsAbout 35.1% of the migrant population has established health records in their inflow communities, with 37.4% established among those of urban origin and 34.8% established among those of rural origin. The establishment of health records is significantly higher among migrants of urban origin than among migrants of rural origin (OR = 1.057; 1.017–1.098). Our results also show that among populations of both rural and urban origin, inter-province migrants, along with migrants who are employers, have no plans for long-term residence, have no insurance, and have more family income less likely to establish health records.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that residence is associated with establishment of health records among the migrant population in China. Targeted policies should be made to improve the establishment of health records among migrants of both rural and urban origins.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-018-3519-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.