Gender differences in health, well-being and medication use among older adults living alone: a cross sectional study

Background
Older adults living alone represent a group with poorer well-being and higher symptom burden. However, potential gender differences in health, well-being, and medication use within this population remain insufficiently studied. This study aimed to examine these differences.

Study Setup (Methods)
This study included community-dwelling older adults living alone (n=905; 299 men, 606 women), aged 75–88 years, participating in preventive home visits in southern Sweden. Logistic regression was used to analyse associations between gender and items within health, well-being and medication use, adjusted for age.

Results
Preliminary results show that, among older adults living alone, female gender was significantly associated with reporting limitations in social activities due to physical problems. Also, female gender was significantly associated with reporting pain, gastrointestinal problems, urinary incontinence, poorer appetite and eating difficulties, while male gender was associated with loss of hearing. No gender differences were found in overall medication use, self-rated health, or life satisfaction. However, female gender was significantly associated with sedative use, falls or fear of falling, and receiving municipal support and reporting need for assistance.

Discussion
These findings suggest that, among older adults living alone, women represent a subgroup with higher symptom burden, greater care needs, and increased exposure to risk factors such as sedative use and falls. The absence of gender differences in overall medication use, despite these differences, may indicate potential unmet needs. The study highlights the importance of considering gender in care planning and preventive strategies supporting health and independence among older adults living alone.