Urban-Rural Differences in Chronic Conditions and Health Risk Factors Among SAGE Older Populations: 2007-2010

In recent decades, a profound health transition has been occurring in low and middle-income countries, where non-communicable diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent and coexisting with communicable disease burdens. Common risk factors for the highest-burdend NCDs are modifiable, which could subsequently prevent or reduce NCD burden.
This study uses data from WHO’s Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), conducted in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa. We examine the prevalence of chronic conditions and preventive health behaviors of the older population, with a focus on urban-rural differentials.
Results indicate that although older rural people had a higher propensity to consume tobacco, alcohol and inadequate fruits/vegetables, they were much more likely to engage in high-level physical activity than their urban counterparts across all six SAGE countries. Furthermore, the higher level of physical activity was carried out in spite of higher disability rates in rural areas. Higher-level physical activity could contribute to lower prevalence of NCDs. The findings provide scope for further benefits from cessation of smoking and heavy drinking, and promotion of healthy diets and increased physical activity levels, particularly among rural older people in low- and middle-income countries.