Magnitude and factors associated with the solitary death phenomenon of the elderly in the Valencian Community.

• Published in: Revista espanola de salud publica Vol. 95
• Main Authors: Esteve-Esteve, Miguel, Melchor-Alós, Inmaculada, Pérez-Panadés, Jordi, Herrero-Huertas, Lidia, Botella-Rocamora, Paloma, Alberich-Martí, Carmen, Zurriaga, Óscar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 24-03-2021
• Subjects: Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Death; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Social Isolation; Spain - epidemiology; Spain; Solitary death; Aging; Loneliness; Isolation; Risk factors; Social support; Spain
• ISSN: 2173-9110

In the Valencian Community 23% of the elderly people live alone, representing the solitary death among aged persons an unwanted effect of aging. Our aim was to determine the magnitude of this phenomenon and its risk factors in the population over 64 years of the CV during the period 2015-2017.
Cross-sectional study was carried out. Household deaths of residents over 64 years of the CV during the 2015-2017 period were analyzed, with records on medical and judicial death certificates. Adjusted incidence rates, sociodemographic characteristics and causes of death were described. For the analysis of risk factors, a multivariate logistic regression was performed, taking the adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) as an association measure. A significance level α=0.05 and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used.
417 cases were found. The adjusted rates were: in 2015, 17.3 (95% CI: 14.7-20.2); in 2016, 14.5 (95% CI: 12.1-17.2); and in 2017, 13.2 (95% CI: 11,0-15.8). The most frequent causes were circulatory (52.5%) and external (19.2%). After adjustment, gender (OR M / H: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.87-3.06), age (OR ≥76 / <76: 4.56; 95% CI: 3.53 -5.90), disability (OR No / Yes: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.31-0.85), season (ref: spring; summer OR: 2.34; 95% CI: 1.63-3 , 37) and population nucleus (rural / urban OR: 2.20; 95% CI 1.58-3.08), remained associated whit the MSA.
The solitary death among aged persons is a phenomenon scarcely studied in our environment from public health. The magnitude in the CV is relevant, with a greater risk in men and at younger ages, as well as in summer and urban areas. Presenting disability represents a certain protection.