ObjectivesThe study aimed to examine the association between individual and community levels in relation to subjective well-being (SWB) among the migrant and local elderly. It particularly focuses on the extent to which and the ways in which the residential environment of migrant and local elderly influences their SWB.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingOur study was conducted in Dongguan City, China.ParticipantsTwo groups of elderly (aged >60 years), including migrants and local residents, were recruited. A total of 470 migrants and 422 local residents participated in this study.Main outcome measuresSWB was assessed by the Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness.ResultsThe community-level health facility density had a positive association with SWB (B=0.38, p<0.01), whereas the financial facility density had a negative association (B=−0.42, p<0.01). The density of health and financial facilities affected the local elderly more than the migrant elderly. Social cohesion is an aspect of the social environment of the community that influenced elders’ SWB (B=0.72, p<0.001).ConclusionsThe primary determinants of SWB for both the migrant and local elderly included individual, societal and environmental factors.

BackgroundThe Quality of Life Instrument for Chronic Diseases (QLICD)-COPD (V2.0) was designed to assess the health condition of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients, the influential clinical factors and the relationships between QOL and clinical objective indicators.MethodsTwo hundred and sixty-one inpatients with COPD in the acute exacerbation stage were evaluated using the QLICD-COPD (V2.0) and data on clinical objective indicators were collected. The relationships between QOL and the clinical objective indicators were determined using canonical correlation analysis.ResultsThe standardised scores for the patients in four domains, namely, physical function, psychological function, social function and a disease-specific module, were 49.00±12.91, 59.89±13.51, 68.59±11.94 and 51.84±13.58, respectively. The total score for the QOL of patients was 57.17±10.26. Two pairs of canonical variables were statistically significant (r1=0.35, p<0.0001; r2=0.26, p<0.05). These variables accounted for 45.8% and 33.8% of the variance, respectively. The levels of total protein, albumin, serum sodium and alkaline phosphatase and the percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes were correlated with the QOL, with correlation coefficients ranging from −0.435 to 0.675.ConclusionClinicians should pay close attention to the levels of total protein, albumin, serum sodium and alkaline phosphatase and the percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes to improve the QOL of patients.