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

Article information

Korean J Community Nutr. 2014;19(5):479-489

Publication date (electronic) : 2014 October 31

doi : https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2014.19.5.479

Department of Food and Nutrition, Andong National University, Gyeongbuk, Korea.

Corresponding author: Hye-Sang Lee. Department of Food and Nutrition, Andong National University, 1375, Gyeongdongro, Andong, Gyeongbuk 760-749, Korea. Tel: (054) 820-5493, Fax: (054) 820-6281, hslee@anu.ac.kr

Received 2014 August 06; Revised 2014 September 23; Accepted 2014 September 30.

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.

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

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Table 1

EQ_5D and EQ_VAS of subjects according to general characteristics

EQ_5D is EuroQol 5 Dimension health-related quality of life, and EQ_VAS is EuroQol visual analogue scale

1) Mean ± SE

2) Compared with elementary school level

3) Adjusted per capita income (monthly household income/vnumber of household members) grouped by gender and ages (5years span)

4) Compared with low income level

^*: p < 0.05, ^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 2

EQ_5D and EQ_VAS of subjects according to health habits

EQ_5D is EuroQol 5 Dimension health-related quality of life, and EQ_VAS is EuroQol visual analogue scale

1) Age, educational level, income level (male)-, age, educational level, income level, number of family members (female)-adjusted Mean ± SE

2) < 1 glass/month

3) ≥ 20 min/day, ≥ 3 days/week

4) ≥ 30 min/day, ≥ 5 days/week

^*: p < 0.05, ^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 3

EQ_5D and EQ_VAS of subjects according to mental health

EQ_5D is EuroQol 5 Dimension health-related quality of life, and EQ_VAS is EuroQol visual analogue scale

1) Age, educational level, income level (male)-, age, educational level, income level, number of family members (female)-adjusted Mean ± SE

2) Compared with very good level

3) Continuous melancholy for over 2 weeks

^*: p < 0.05, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 4

EQ_5D and EQ_VAS of subjects according to chronic disease

EQ_5D is EuroQol 5 Dimension health-related quality of life, and EQ_VAS is EuroQol visual analogue scale

1) BMI < 18.5

2) Age, educational level, income level (male)-, age, educational level, income level, number of family members (female)-adjusted Mean ± SE

3) BMI ≥ 25

4) Compared with normal

5) Waist circumference ≥ 90 cm (M); 85 cm (F)

6) 140 > Systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mmHg or 90 > diastolic blood pressure ≥ 85 mmHg

7) Systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or drug

8) Total cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dl or drug

9) TG ≥ 200 mg/dl

10) Hemoglobin < 13 g/dl (M);12 g/dl (F)

11) 100 mg/dl ≤ Fasting blood glucose ≤ 125 mg/dl

12) Fasting blood glucose ≥ 125 mg/dl or drug or insulin

^*: p < 0.05, ^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 5

EQ_5D and EQ_VAS of subjects according to nutrient intake status

EQ_5D is EuroQol 5 Dimension health-related quality of life, and EQ_VAS is EuroQol visual analogue scale

1) Age, educational level, income level-(male), age, educational level, income level, number of family members (female)-adjusted Mean ± SE

^*: p < 0.05, ^**: p < 0.01

Table 6

Prediction of EQ_5D and EQ_VAS of subjects using linear regression model

EQ_5D is EuroQol 5 Dimension health-related quality of life, and EQ_VAS is EuroQol visual analogue scale, New independent variables introduced in case of ΔR² ≥ 0.005

^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001