Riskcenter, Department of Econometrics, Statistics and Applied Economy, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 690, 08034, Barcelona, Spain.
Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Av. Tibidabo 39-43, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2018 Mar 13;16(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s12955-018-0877-z.
Sustained growth in longevity raises questions as to why some individuals report a good quality of life in older ages, while others seem to suffer more markedly the effects of natural deterioration. Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is mediated by several easily measurable factors, including socio-demographics, morbidity, functional status and lifestyles. This study seeks to further our knowledge of these factors in order to outline a profile of the population at greater risk of poor ageing, and to identify those attributes that might be modified during younger stages of the life course.
We use nationally representative data for Catalonia (Spain) to explain the HRQL of the population aged 80-plus. Cross-sectional data from 2011 to 2016 were provided by an official face-to-face survey. HRQL was measured using EQ-VAS - the EuroQol-5D visual analogue scale - which summarizes current self-perceived health. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify variables influencing the EQ-VAS score.
Sociodemographic factors, including being older, female, poorly educated and belonging to a low social class, were related with poor HRQL at advanced ages. The presence of severe mobility problems, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression were highly correlated to the HRQL of the elderly, while problems of self-care and with usual activities had a weaker association.
Encouraging the young to stay in education, as well as to adopt healthier lifestyles across the lifespan, might ensure better HRQL when individuals reach old age. More multidisciplinary research is required to understand the multifaceted nature of quality of life in the oldest-old population.
长寿的持续增长引发了这样的问题，为什么有些个体在老年时报告生活质量良好，而有些个体似乎更明显地受到自然衰退的影响。健康相关的生活质量（HRQL）受到多个易于测量的因素的影响，包括社会人口统计学、发病率、功能状态和生活方式。本研究旨在进一步了解这些因素，以描绘出更易出现不良衰老的人群特征，并确定那些在生命早期阶段可能会改变的特征。
我们使用加泰罗尼亚（西班牙）的全国代表性数据来解释 80 岁以上人群的 HRQL。2011 年至 2016 年的横断面数据由官方面对面调查提供。HRQL 使用 EQ-VAS（欧洲五维健康量表视觉模拟量表）进行测量，该量表概括了当前自我感知的健康状况。使用多元线性回归来确定影响 EQ-VAS 评分的变量。
社会人口统计学因素，包括年龄较大、女性、受教育程度较低和社会阶层较低，与老年时较差的 HRQL 相关。严重的行动障碍、疼痛/不适以及焦虑/抑郁的存在与老年人的 HRQL 高度相关，而自理和日常活动的问题则与之相关性较弱。
鼓励年轻人接受教育，并在整个生命周期中采取更健康的生活方式，可能会确保他们在老年时获得更好的 HRQL。需要进行更多的跨学科研究，以了解最年长人群生活质量的多方面性质。
