Health Lifestyles and Their Influence on Chinese Oldest-old’s Health Outcomes —Evidence From a Latent Class Analysis

Abstract

BackgroundA strong association between individual health behaviors and health outcomes has been emphasized by previous analyses. However, how individual health behaviors can be classified into health lifestyles and the manner in which health lifestyles have impacted Chinese oldest-old’s health status are largely unknown.MethodsAnalyzing the 2014 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), latent class analysis was applied to identify predominant health lifestyles among Chinese oldest-old aged 85 to 105.ResultsFour distinct classes representing health lifestyles emerged. Health lifestyles were found to be strongly associated with Chinese oldest-old’s health outcomes which were measured by self-rated health, functional independence, cognitive function and chronic diseases, even after controlling for demographic features as well as individual and parental socioeconomic disadvantage. Findings also showed a convergence of health disparities caused by demographic and SES characteristics in very old age.ConclusionsChinese oldest-old showed four predominant health lifestyles with only 21.9% of the sample had consistently healthy lifestyle behaviors. The significant influence of health lifestyles on health remained after age 85, .highlighting the importance of promoting health lifestyles to advance the oldest-old’s health status.