BACKGROUND: With social development, the average life span is prolonged. The issue of aging has increasingly attracted people's attention. It is necessary to promote the health status and the guality of life of the elderly..OBJECTIVE: To understand the status and distribution features of several common diseases which influence the quality of life of elderly.DESIGN: Random cluster sampling methods and a cross-section survey.SETTING: Beijing Institute of Geriatrics of Beijing Hospital.PARTICIPANTS:Totally 1 558 old people aged ≥60 years living in 10 communities affiliated to Jianguomen district office of the Eastern District of Beijing City,and 8 villages affiliated to Xiangyang and Henan Villagers'Commissions of Shunyi County of Beijing from May 1997 and October 1997 were recruited.In fact,1 434 persons responded,with a response rate being 92％,319 males and 498 females came from the city;242 males and 375 females came from the villages.METHODS:Questionnaires were filled up,and physical examinations were conducted in all the elderly. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The 6 common diseases were observed among the elderly: Hyperplasia of prostate, abnormal audition, cartaract ,osteoarthritis, fracture and constipation.RESULTS:Totally 1434 elderly entered the stage of result analysis.①The incidence of hyperplasia of prostate in the males from the urban areas was lower than that in the rural areas (61.4％,65.7％, P ＜ 0.01 ). ② The incidence of abnormal audition among the elderly from the urban areas was lower than that in the rural areas (53.9％,64.7％,P ＜ 0.01).③ The incidence of cataract of the two eyes in the elderly from the urban areas was higher than that in the rural areas(46.4％,44.4％, P ＜ 0.01). ④ The incidence of osteoarthropathy in the elderly from the urban areas was higher than that in the rural areas (24.4％,14.9, P ＜ 0.01). ⑤ The incidence of fracture in the elderly from the urban areas was higher than that in the rural areas (14.2％,9.1％, P ＜ 0.05). ⑥ The incidence of constipation of the elderly in urban areas was lower than that in the rural areas(18.2％,23.0％,P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION:There is a difference between the elderly from the urban areas and the rural areas in hyperplasis of prostate,abnormal audition, cataract, osteoarthropathy, fracture and constipation, and this is related with the economy, nutrition, medical conditions and cultural traits.Therefore, attention should be attached to nutrition and health knowledge of the elderly and prevention and treatment of common diseases among the elderly people.