Smoking, Alcohol Drinking and Insufficient Physical Activity among Rural Elderly in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand

Abstract

Background: The elderly proportion in Thailand is expected to be 20% in 2021. Information about behavioral risk factors among rural elderly in Chiang Rai province is limited.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with smoking, alcohol drinking and insufficient physical activity among elderly in rural area of Chiang Rai province.
Material and method: A cross-sectional study was surveyed in 245 rural elderly (age >60 years) in rural area of Chiang Rai province by simple randomization between April - May 2015. The research instruments included general characteristics, behavioral risk factors and Mini-Mental State Examination: Thai version (MMSE-Thai 2002). Data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression.
Results: The mean age was 70.4 ± 7.6 years (range, 60-95). Female was predominant (62.9%). Prevalence of current smoking, current alcohol drinking and insufficient physical activity was 18.8%, 19.2% and 46.9% respectively. Cognitive impairment was found in 26.1% of current smokers, 23.4 % of current alcohol drinkers and 45.2% of the elderly with insufficient physical activity. Male was the only significant factor associated with smoking (OR=2.9, 95%CI 1.5-5.8).
Factors associated with alcohol drinking included male (OR=5.0, 95%CI 2.5-9.9), age between 70-79 years (OR=0.5, 95%CI 0.2-0.9) and education level (OR=2.7, 95%CI 1.2-6.2). Factors associated with insufficient physical activity were age >80 years (OR=6.1, 95%CI 2.4-15.0), education level (OR=0.4, 95%CI 0.2-0.7), non-workers (OR=2.4, 95%CI 1.4-4.0), and inadequate income (OR=2.7%, 95%CI 1.4-4.9). 
Conclusion: Rather high prevalence of smoking, alcohol drinking and insufficient physical activity was found in the elderly. Campaign to reduce these risk behaviors should be promoted.