Differences in reporting somatic complaints in elderly by education level

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Stankunas, M (Author) Other; Soares, JFJ (Author) Other; Stankuniene, A (Author) Other; Melchiorre, MG (Author) Other; Torres Gonzales, F (Author) Other; Ioannidi Kapolou, E (Author) Other; Barros H (Author) FMUP; Lindert, J (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Central European Journal of Medicine

Vol. 8

Pages: 125-131

ISSN: 1895-1058

Publisher: De Gruyter Open

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citations

Scopus - 5 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-139

DOI: 10.2478/s11536-012-0093-x

Abstract (EN): To evaluate the association between somatic complaints and education level among elders in selected European countries. Cross-sectional study among randomly selected community dwelling persons aged 60-84 years from seven cities in Europe: Ancona (Italy), Athens (Greece), Granada (Spain), Kaunas (Lithuania), Stuttgart (Germany), Porto (Portugal) and Stockholm (Sweden). Somatic complaints were measured with the 24-item version of the Giessen Complaint List (GBB-24). A regression analysis was done to investigate the association between education and somatic complaints. Results. The mean GBB-24 scale was 16.3 +/- 14.9. The most common complaints were pain in joints and limbs (29.6%), back-pain (24.1%), heaviness or tiredness in the legs (19.1%) and general tiredness (15.7%). Respondents with less than primary education reported higher levels of somatic symptoms compared to those with university degree. A regression analysis showed that higher education (OR=0.69) and being male (OR=0.48) were associated with a decreased risk for high levels of somatic complaints, and the opposite for older age (OR=1.03) and being single/divorced/window (OR=1.28). The results indicate that less educated elders are more likely to expressed somatic complaints.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7