Latent Class Analysis for Health-Related Quality of Life in the Middle-Aged Male in South Korea

Abstract

This study aimed to identify types of quality of life (QoL) based on the 5 dimensions of EQ-5D and predict factors affecting types of QoL. This study was a secondary analysis using data from the Korean Health Panel Survey-??2012). Participants were 2,071 middle-aged men who had completed the additional survey in 2012 and the data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and Mplus 5.21 for latent analysis. Three latent classes of QoL were identified: serious (2.4% of the sample), threatened (15.5%), and stable types (82.0%). The types and characteristics of QoL among the latent classes differed. On comparing latent type 1 with latent type 2, the socioeconomic status (p<.05), employment status (p<.05), and subjective health status (p<.001) were found to be significant. On comparing latent type 1 with latent type 3, the socioeconomic status (p<.05), current smoking status (p<.001), and subjective health status (p<.001) were found to be significant. On comparing latent type 2 with latent type 3, the socioeconomic status (p<.05), subjective health status (p<.001), stress (p<.001) were found to be significant. The results showed significant heterogeneity in types of QoL and the predictors of QoL by types were different. These findings provide basic information for developing nursing interventions to improve QoL. Specific characteristics depending on the subtypes should be considered during the development of interventions.