The association between daily housework and all-cause mortality among rural older adults in Miyun District of Beijing

Objectives: To investigate the association between daily housework and all-cause mortality among older adults in rural Miyun District, Beijing. Methods: Data were derived from the Beijing Elderly Comprehensive Health Cohort Study. A two-stage random sampling method was used to select elderly residents (≥60 years old) from Jugezhuang Town and Fengjiayu Town in Miyun District, Beijing, during June-September 2014. Participants underwent questionnaire surveys, physical examinations, and laboratory tests, with follow-ups conducted every 2-3 years until March 31, 2021. Descriptive analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed using SPSS 27.0 to assess the association between daily housework and all-cause mortality. Results: A total of 2 397 individuals were included in this analysis. Among them, 305 (12.72%) did no housework, 737 (30.75%) did low-frequency housework, and 1 355 (56.53%) did high-frequency housework. During the follow-up period, 277 (11.56%) deaths occurred. Compared with those who did no housework, the risk of death was reduced by 32% (HR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.48-0.95) for those with low-frequency housework and by 33% (HR=0.67, 95%CI: 0.49-0.91) for those with high-frequency housework in the total population. In the male subgroup, the risk of death was reduced by 40% (HR=0.60,95%CI: 0.40-0.92) for those with low-frequency housework and by 39% (HR=0.61,95%CI: 0.41-0.92) for those with high-frequency housework. In the 70-79 age group, the risk of death was reduced by 41% (HR=0.59,95%CI: 0.36-0.96) for those with low-frequency housework. Conclusions: In the rural elderly population of Miyun District, Beijing, household chores are associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality. Special attention should be paid to housework among men and older adults aged 70-79 years who engage in low-frequency housework. Given the living characteristics of rural older adults, it is recommended to encourage their active participation in household chores to develop more effective healthy aging strategies, thereby promoting health and extending lifespan.