Health-Related Quality of Life After the 2015 Gorkha Earthquakes, Among Older Adults Living in Lalitpur District of Central Nepal

Abstract

Objective: Health-related quality of life (HQL) among older adults is often neglected and underprioritized in developing countries and is further burdened during natural disasters, such as earthquakes. The main objective of this study was to explore the factors affecting HQL among older adults living in Lalitpur District of Nepal. Methods: A total of 362 older adults participated in this study. Questionnaires were used to interview the respondents on various aspects, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, functional ability, and social support. An analysis was made to explore the factors affecting HQL. Results: HQL scores ranged between 3.13 and 90.63. A majority of the respondents (215/362; 59.4%) scored ≤ 50, indicating poorer HQL. The multivariate analysis found the impact of the following factors on HQL: functional status (β = 0.295; P < 0.001), PTSD (β = −0.225; P < 0.001), chronic disease (β = −0.168; P < 0.001), social support (β = 0.120; P = 0.019), injury (β = −0.104; P = 0.024), age (β = −0.116; P < 0.001), and accessibility to resources. Conclusion: Poor HQL of older adults was dependent on various factors. The disaster preparedness program in Nepal needs urgent attention to address the concerns of older adults by incorporating the findings from this study.

Quality of life and its association with psychiatric disorders in outpatients with trauma history in a tertiary hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal: a cross-sectional study

“…Studies among the elderly from Korea and Bangladesh also reported associations between depression and lower QOL [64,65]. The only study from Nepal assessing QOL after major trauma was also among the elderly from a city area, where higher age and PTSD diagnosis were associated with poorer QOL even 1.5 years after the trauma [66]. Another study from Nepal on old-age home residents also reported associations between depression and all four QOL domains [67].…”

A Retrospective Analysis of Mortality From 2015 Gorkha Earthquakes of Nepal: Evidence and Future Recommendations

“…16 A recent study from Nepal echoes our findings and shows that the older adults were vulnerable to have a poorer health-related quality of life. 12 The older population was found to be the most affected group during the earthquakes in Japan, China, Haiti, India, and California. 8,10,16,17 Although various factors play a synergistic role for the cumulative impact, 18 the older adults in Nepal were further made vulnerable due to their homebound nature, low mobility (due to disability and debility as a result of old age), and comorbid conditions.…”

“…8,10,16,17 Although various factors play a synergistic role for the cumulative impact, 18 the older adults in Nepal were further made vulnerable due to their homebound nature, low mobility (due to disability and debility as a result of old age), and comorbid conditions. 9,12 In general, delayed response is observed among the elderly population who often suffer from comorbid conditions, including depression. 19 More than half (57% of 289 patients) of the elderly population attending general Out-Patient Department in Kathmandu were found to be suffering from depression.…”

“…27 Access to and quality of health services were associated with the poorer health-related quality of life among the older age earthquake survivors in Lalitpur district of Nepal. 12 In such circumstances, published reports and anecdotes univocally reflected on the lack of attention to the health services.…”

“…11 These findings resonate well with a recent study conducted in Nepal, which highlighted that the older population during the earthquakes were particularly vulnerable, and their health-related quality of life was affected by age, decreased mobility, injuries, poor access to health care, weak social support, and posttraumatic stress disorder. 12 Time and again, the country-specific data have shown the vulnerable groups for injuries and mortality due to natural calamities. [7][8][9][10][11] Nevertheless, these vulnerable groups and the environment that conduces injuries and mortality are often overlooked and are not fully translated in the policy and preparedness.…”