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A health ecological model study of subjective cognitive decline among hypertensive patients in rural Shanxi, China
Ruifeng Liang, Jiawei Liu, Wenhua Sun, Siyi Li, Jue Wang, Qiao Niu, Hongmei Yu, Xiaojiang Qin et al.. Scientific Reports, 2026-07-14
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
This study aimed to test the hypothesis that multi-level factors across the five Health Ecological Model (HEM) layers are independently associated with SCD among hypertensive patients in rural China, and to identify specific associated factors within each layer. Multi-level factors were significantly associated with SCD. In the Individual Characteristics Layer, advanced age (OR = 1.042, 95% CI 1.010 ~ 1.074), family history of hypertension (OR = 2.352, 95% CI 1.550 ~ 3.570), hypertensive complications (OR = 3.049, 95% CI 1.680 ~ 5.534) and moderate hypertension risk level (OR = 1.847, 95% CI 1.149 ~ 2.968) were associated with higher odds of SCD. Within the Behavior and Lifestyle Layer, lack of physical exercise (OR = 1.611, 95% CI 1.075 ~ 2.412) and fairly good and fairly poor sleep quality (fairly good: OR = 1.644, 95% CI 1.063 ~ 2.543; fairly poor: OR = 1.939, 95% CI 1.017 ~ 3.698) were associated with SCD, while former drinker was associated with lower odds of SCD (OR = 0.294, 95% CI 0.107 ~ 0.809), although this association may reflect residual confounding and should not be interpreted causally. In the Working and Living Conditions Layer, lower household income (< 1000 CNY: OR = 3.282, 95% CI 1.647 ~ 6.540), utilization of county-level hospitals (OR = 1.697, 95% CI 1.077 ~ 2.676), and mild depression (OR = 2.068, 95% CI 1.215 ~ 3.519) were associated with SCD. In the Policy Environment Layer, no significant associations were observed. These findings identify multi-level factors associated with SCD in this population, highlighting potential areas for integrated prevention strategies, though longitudinal studies are needed to establish their predictive value.
Key findings
- This study aimed to test the hypothesis that multi-level factors across the five Health Ecological Model (HEM) layers are independently associated with SCD among hypertensive patients in rural China, and to identify specific associated factors within each layer.
- Multi-level factors were significantly associated with SCD.
- In the Individual Characteristics Layer, advanced age (OR = 1.042, 95% CI 1.010 ~ 1.074), family history of hypertension (OR = 2.352, 95% CI 1.550 ~ 3.570), hypertensive complications (OR = 3.049, 95% CI 1.680 ~ 5.534) and moderate hypertension risk level (OR = 1.847, 95% CI 1.149 ~ 2.968) were associated with higher odds of SCD.
- Within the Behavior and Lifestyle Layer, lack of physical exercise (OR = 1.611, 95% CI 1.075 ~ 2.412) and fairly good and fairly poor sleep quality (fairly good: OR = 1.644, 95% CI 1.063 ~ 2.543; fairly poor: OR = 1.939, 95% CI 1.017 ~ 3.698) were associated with SCD, while former drinker was associated with lower odds of SCD (OR = 0.294, 95% CI 0.107 ~ 0.809), although this association may reflect residual confounding and should not be interpreted causally.
- In the Working and Living Conditions Layer, lower household income (< 1000 CNY: OR = 3.282, 95% CI 1.647 ~ 6.540), utilization of county-level hospitals (OR = 1.697, 95% CI 1.077 ~ 2.676), and mild depression (OR = 2.068, 95% CI 1.215 ~ 3.519) were associated with SCD.
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study identified factors linked to subjective cognitive decline among hypertensive patients in rural China. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Effect size80.58%; OR = 1.042; OR = 2.352
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 40 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 42 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific Reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Scientific Reports: journal h-index 463 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Shuhong Zhao holds only 1 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Shanxi Medical University: institution h-index 258 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42448799) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 40 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 40 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 42 out of 100. |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-62335-3
- PubMed: 42448799
- Original source →
- Free full text: Scientific Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Liang, R., Liu, J., Sun, W., Li, S., Wang, J., Niu, Q., et al. (2026). A health ecological model study of subjective cognitive decline among hypertensive patients in rural Shanxi, China. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62335-3
Vancouver
Liang R, Liu J, Sun W, Li S, Wang J, Niu Q, et al. A health ecological model study of subjective cognitive decline among hypertensive patients in rural Shanxi, China. Scientific Reports. 2026. doi:10.1038/s41598-026-62335-3. PMID: 42448799.
BibTeX
@article{liang2026-42448799,
author = {Liang, Ruifeng and Liu, Jiawei and Sun, Wenhua and Li, Siyi and Wang, Jue and Niu, Qiao and Yu, Hongmei and Qin, Xiaojiang and others},
title = {{A health ecological model study of subjective cognitive decline among hypertensive patients in rural Shanxi, China}},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-62335-3},
pmid = {42448799},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62335-3}
}
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