Factors associated with health related quality of life (HRQoL): differential patterns depending on age

The objectives of this study published in the journal Quality of Life Research were: (1) to analyze age differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between older adults aged 65-84 years and older persons aged 85 years and older, and (2) to investigate three types of predictors for their: (a) physical health (basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, comorbidity, medication use), (b) global cognitive ability and (c) psychosocial factors, specifically personality traits, social support and emotional functioning (affect and life satisfaction), which may influence each other's HRQoL.

For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 257 healthy community-dwelling elderly people. HRQOL was assessed using the SF-36 Health Survey. Functional and health status, global cognitive capacity and psychosocial variables were also assessed.

The results point to differences in the determinants of HRQoL between the 65-84 years and the 85 years and older group, suggesting that these associations change with age.