CRITICAL REVIEW OF SLEEP QUALITY AND SELF-REPORTED HEALTH STATUS OF ELDERLY WITH CHRONIC DISEASES IN SOUTHWEST CHINA

Authors: Yao Lansicheng & Jacquline Tham

ABSTRACT

Population aging, shifting disease patterns, and disparities in primary healthcare access pose significant public health challenges in China, amplified by ongoing industrialization and urbanization. Sleep quality problems among the elderly, particularly those with chronic conditions, are a developing concern. This issue is especially acute in Southwest China, where significant urban-rural medical resource disparities and socioeconomic non-uniformity contribute to a notably higher prevalence of sleep disorders (46.0%) among elderly chronic disease patients compared to national and Euro-American averages. This elevated prevalence reflects not only individual physiological factors but also structural imbalances within the regional health system. The health ecological model, emphasizing the interplay of factors from individual to policy levels on health outcomes, provides an integrated theoretical framework. This review critically analyzes the causes of sleep quality and its association with self-reported health status in the elderly population within Southwest China’s underdeveloped area, while also exploring implications for strengthening regional primary health care systems.

Keywords: Sleep Quality; Elderly; Primary Health Care; Health Ecological Model

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