With growing recognition of the social determinants of health, social capital is an increasingly important construct in international health. However, the application of social capital discourse in response to HIV infection remains preliminary. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of social capital on quality of life (QoL) among adult patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). A convenient sample of 283 patients receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) was investigated in Anhui province, China. QoL data were collected using the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Survey (MOS-HIV) questionnaire. Social capital was measured using a self-developed questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to explore associations between social capital and QoL. The study sample had a mean physical health summary (PHS) score of 50.13 ± 9.90 and a mean mental health summary (MHS) score of 41.64 ± 11.68. Cronbach's α coefficients of the five multi-item scales of social capital ranged from 0.44 to 0.79. When other variables were controlled for, lower individual levels of reciprocity and trust were associated with a greater likelihood of having a poor PHS score (odds ratio [OR] =2.02) or PHS score (OR=6.90). Additionally, the factors of social support and social networks and ties were associated positively with MHS score (OR=2.30, OR=4.17, respectively). This is the first report to explore the effects of social capital on QoL of AIDS patients in China. The results indicate that social capital is a promising avenue for developing strategies to improve the QoL of AIDS patients in China, suggesting that the contribution of social capital should be fully exploited, especially with enhancement of QoL through social participation. Social capital development policy may be worthy of consideration.

Previous studies indicated overall relatively low prevalence of dementia in older people in China, which may be biased by studied samples or methods. We determined the prevalence of dementia cases and subcases in China and examined their socio-economic correlates. Using the Geriatric Mental State interview, we examined random samples of 2917 participants aged ≥ 65 years in urban and rural Anhui, China in 2001-2003, and 3327 in four other provinces in 2008-2009. Dementia cases and subcases were diagnosed by Geriatric Mental State-Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer Assisted Taxonomy. Age-standardised prevalence for cases and subcases of dementia in the Anhui elders was 7.20% (95%CI 6.29%-8.20%) and 10.5% (9.38%-11.6%), and in the four provinces, 9.86% (8.80%-10.9%) and 8.51% (7.51%-9.52%). The matched figures among the participants who were literate were 3.05% (2.08%-4.02%) and 10.0% (8.38%-11.6%), and 4.92% (3.89%-5.96%) and 6.76% (5.55%-7.96%), respectively. There were higher prevalence rates of dementia cases and subcases in the rural elders than in the urban. Both the Anhui and four-province studies showed an obvious association of dementia with higher and lower incomes among elders who had lower educational levels or had the lowest occupational class. The highest risk of dementia was found in those who were illiterate but had the highest income or had the job of business/nonmanual labouring. People in China have a higher prevalence of dementia than previously reported. Its U-shaped relationship with income and the excess subcases prevalence predicates a significant burden of disease, both now and for the future, suggesting preventive strategy for dementia in China.

Determinants for undetected dementia and late-life depression have been not well studied. To investigate risk factors for undetected dementia and depression in older communities. Using the method of the 10/66 algorithm, we interviewed a random sample of 7072 participants aged ≥60 years in six provinces of China during 2007-2011. We documented doctor-diagnosed dementia and depression in the interview. Using the validated 10/66 algorithm we diagnosed dementia (n = 359) and depression (n = 328). We found that 93.1% of dementia and 92.5% of depression was undetected. Both undetected dementia and depression were significantly associated with low levels of education and occupation, and living in a rural area. The risk of undetected dementia was also associated with 'help available when needed', and inversely, with a family history of mental illness and having functional impairment. Undetected depression was significantly related to female gender, low income, having more children and inversely with having heart disease.

With the gradual aging of the population, geriatric depression has become a major public health issue in China owing to its overall upward trend and associated negative socio-economic impact. Dearth of information regarding the burden and correlates of geriatric depression among Uyghur minority population in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, called for a comprehensive survey involving representative sample for designing efficient targeted intervention to control this disabling disease.

Current knowledge about incident dementia is mainly derived from studies undertaken in the West, showing that dementia is related to older age, low socio-economic status, lack of social network, depression and cardiovascular disease risk factors. We know little about incidence and predictors of dementia in China, where the prevalence is increasing and the patterns of risk factors are different. Using a standard interview method, we examined 1526 non-demented people aged ≥65 years who had at least minimal educational level in China in a 7.5-year follow up. Incident dementia was diagnosed by GMS-AGECAT algorithms and psychiatrists. Age-standardised incidence of dementia was 14.7 per 1000 person-years (95%CI 11.3-18.2 per 1000 person-years). The increased risk was significantly associated with age, female gender (adjusted odds ratio 2.48, 95%CI 1.20-5.13), low educational levels, smoking, angina (2.58, 1.01-6.59) and living with fewer family members. Among participants with low educational level, the increased risk was associated with higher income, and with the highest and lowest occupational classes; adjusted odds ratio 2.74 (95%CI 1.12-6.70) for officers/teachers, 3.11 (1.61-6.01) for manual labourers/peasants. Our findings of high incidence of dementia and increased risk among people having low education levels but high income suggest a more potential epidemic and burden of dementia populations in China. Maintaining social network and activities and reducing cardiovascular factors in late life could be integrated into current multi-faceted preventive strategies for curbing the epidemic of dementia.