Identifying the components of quality of life in old age

Fermina Rojo-Perez, Institute of Economics and Geography. Spanish Council for Scientific Research
Gloria Fernandez-Mayoralas, Institute of Economics and Geography. Spanish Council for Scientific Research
Vicente Rodriguez, Instituto de Economía y Geografía, Spain
Raul Lardies, Spanish Council for Scientific Research
Maria-Eugenia Prieto-Flores, Institute of Economics and Geography. Spanish Council for Scientific Research
Pablo Martinez-Martin, Institute of Health 'Carlos III', National Centre for Epidemiology
Belen Frades, Institute of Health ‘Carlos III’. National Centre for Epidemiology
Jose-Manuel Rojo-Abuin, Laboratory of Statistical Analysis, Institute of Economics and Geography, CSIC
M. Joao Forjaz, Institute of Health ‘Carlos III’. National Centre for Epidemiology
Beatriz Leon-Salas, Institute of Economics and Geography. Spanish Council for Scientific Research

Objectives. To identify the most relevant dimensions of QoL and explore the sociodemographic and health explanatory factors that structure Quality of Later Life. Data and Methods. Data from a face-to-face survey carried out in 2005 to elderly people in family dwelling has been used. The survey contains a measure of individual QoL (SEIQoL-DW) which allows the respondents to identify the 5 most important QoL dimensions (cues) and to rate their satisfaction levels and weights towards the calculation of SEIQoL index score (ranging from 0 to 100). Other health measures are: Barthel’s disability index, diagnosed diseases and comorbidity index (CIRS-G adapted), depression subscale from HAD and the VAS health-status from EQ-5D. Contingency tables and General Linear Models have been used to explore the relationships between the SEIQoL index and health-related and socio-demographic variables. Results and Discussion. The five most spontaneously nominated QoL areas are Health (96% of the sample), Family Network (82%), Economic Situation (76%), Social Network (57%) and Leisure activities (38%). Family Network and Health rate the highest levels of satisfaction (77 and 71 over 100, respectively), meanwhile Social Network, Economic Situation and Leisure activities range from 66 to 60 over 100. Mean weights are higher for Health and Family Network (26% each) and lower for Social Network and Economic Situation (16% each) and Leisure (14%). Overall SEIQoL mean index score is 71 ± 12 and ranges from 31 to 96. SEIQoL index is associated with age (p≤0.05), social status (p≤0.005) and self-perceived household economic status (p≤0.01); self-rating of current health status (p≤0.005) and depression subscale (p≤0.05) also show association with the SEIQoL index. However, no statistical association is found with gender, disability index, diagnosed diseases and comorbidity index. Subjective health variables seem to play an important role, together with sociodemographic factors, in the structure of QoL among the elderly.