Abstract
BACKGROUND: Given the high prevalence of chronic conditions and multimorbidity in the elderly, there is a need to determine which chronic conditions have the greatest impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and identify where additional intervention may be required.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of a range of common chronic conditions on HRQL in a community-based population aged 65 years or more in the UK.
METHODS: Secondary analysis of data derived from a large (n = 5849) cross-sectional study. HRQL was assessed using the EuroQoL EQ-5D. Multivariable models were used to estimate the relative effect of 15 individual common chronic conditions and combinations of these conditions on HRQL.
RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 74.6 years, 49.2% were male. The mean EQ-5D index score was 0.78 (standard deviation 0.2), range -0.43 to 1.00. Overall, 53% (n = 3078) of the cohort reported problems with pain, 39% (n = 2273) with mobility and 9% (n = 529) with self-care. Multivariate modelling demonstrated that impaired HRQL was significantly associated with 13 of the 15 common chronic conditions studied. Clinically meaningful reductions in EQ-5D index scores were observed for osteoarthritis (-0.081, P = 0.0006), neurological disease (-0.172, P < 0.0001) and depression (-0.269, P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: This study quantifies the relative impact of 13 common chronic conditions on HRQL in a UK-based community-dwelling ageing population. Findings indicate that osteoarthritis, depression and neurological disease have a strong clinically important negative effect on HRQL. These findings may help clinical decision making and priority setting for management of individuals with multimorbidity.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 557-63 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Family Practice |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2014 |
Keywords
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Chronic Disease
- Chronic Pain
- Cost of Illness
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Depression
- Female
- Humans
- Independent Living
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mobility Limitation
- Nervous System Diseases
- Osteoarthritis
- Quality of Life
- Self Care
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- United Kingdom
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't