Quality of life in the Elders has not Been Regarded as much as their Life Span: A Population-Based Study From Iran

Abstract

Background Quality of life (QOL) in the elderly people was not addressed as much as their life expectancy. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the QOL in the elders. Method In this cross-sectional study, the elders were selected by multi-stage cluster random sampling from health centers-covered population of Shiraz, Iran and interviewed individually. The Persian version of the Leiden-Padua (LIEPAD) questionnaire, consisting of core components (CCQOL) and moderators (MQOL) of QOL was used. SPSS software (version 25) was applied for data analysis. Results The mean age of 386 participants was 68.12 ± 6.24 years. The female to male ratio was 1.1 and 350 (90.7%) educated up to 12 years. The mean score of QOL (sum of CCQOL and MQOL) was 83.67 ± 13.75 (out of 147); consisting of 27 (6.9%) participants with low, 316 (81.8%) with moderate and 43 (11%) with high level of QOL. The mean scores of CCQOL and MQOL were 70.68 ± 9.42 (out of 93) and 14.14 ± 2.46 (out of 54), respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that sleep disorder (B = -0.15), osteoporosis (B = -0.14), female gender (B = -0.13), and not being the source of family income (B = -0.13) were significantly and inversely associated with QOL, while sleep disorder, facing to violence, female gender, migraine, psychological disease and not being the source of family income were inversely associated with CCQOL. Sexual problem, facing to violence, not having supplementary insurance, inability to walk and migraine had a significant and an inverse correlation with MQOL. Conclusion Four out of five elders in the Shiraz region have moderate level of QOL, while the elder females and the elders with chronic diseases, as well as the elders who are not the source of their family income had a lower level of QOL. Quality of life in the elders can be improved through an integrated care program in the health centers.

Quality of life in health Iranian elderly population approach in health promotion: A systematic review

“…Sleep disorders, osteoporosis, the female gender, and lack of family income were inversely related to the quality of the life. [ 40 ] Another study assessing the relationship between QOL and depression in 159 older adults found a negative relationship between depression and QOL. Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship between age, gender, and depression has been reported.…”

“…Studies have shown a direct and significant association between QOL and social supports among which emotional support had the greatest effect on the QOL. [ 24 40 ]…”