Korean J Community Nutr.  2014 Oct;19(5):479-489. 10.5720/kjcn.2014.19.5.479.

The Factors Influencing Health-Related Quality of Life in the Elderly: Focused on the General Characteristics, Health Habits, Mental Health, Chronic Diseases, and Nutrient Intake Status: Data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V), 2010~2012

• Lee HS

• KMID: 2268111
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2014.19.5.479

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study intended to determine significant factors that influence the health-related quality of life ("HRQoL"; EuroQol 5 Dimension health-related quality of life (EQ_5D) & EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ_VAS)) of the elderly in Korea.
METHODS
This study was based on 3,903 subjects aged 65 years or more who participated in the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V), 2010~2012. The HRQoL was analyzed by various factors (general characteristics, health habits, mental health, chronic diseases, nutrient intakes). SPSS statistics for complex samples (Windows ver. 21.0) was used.
RESULTS
The HRQoL was higher in the males, those with higher educational level or higher income level while it was lower in those belong to single households. In particular, the EQ_5D was significantly higher in the group who reported walking practice, moderate physical activity (male), and the group who reported no vigorous physical activity (female). The EQ_VAS was significantly higher in the group who reported walking practice. Both EQ_5D and EQ_VAS were significantly lower in the group with stress, melancholy, suicidal thinking, and osteoarthritis. EQ_5D was significantly lower in the group with < 75% Estimated Energy Requirements (EER) in energy intake, and with < Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) in iron or niacin intake. A stepwise regression analysis revealed that i) higher educational level (male), and good self-rated health status significantly increased the EQ_5D, ii) age, alcohol intake (male), melancholy (female), suicidal thinking, osteoarthritis, and niacin intake deficiency (male) significantly decreased the EQ_5D, iii) higher income level (male) and good self-rated health status significantly increased the EQ_VAS, and iv) age (male), stress, suicidal thinking (female) and osteoarthritis significantly decreased the EQ_VAS.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that general characteristics, mental health, osteoarthritis, and niacin intake were associated with the HRQoL. Prospective research of long-term control is needed to establish the causal relationship between factors and the HRQoL.

Keyword

KNHANES V; the elderly; the health-related quality of life (HRQoL); EQ_5D; EQ_VAS

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Chronic Disease*
Energy Intake
Family Characteristics
Humans
Iron
Korea
Male
Mental Health*
Motor Activity
Niacin
Nutrition Surveys*
Osteoarthritis
Quality of Life*
Thinking
Walking
Iron
Niacin

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