Abstract
BackgroundThe current work examined experiences of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) among older adults with a diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) over time compared to those without a diagnoses DM.MethodsThe sample was drawn from six biennial waves of the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement survey, a prospective population-based cohort study of older adults 55–70 years at baseline. Data on sociodemographic factors, health behaviours, chronic disease diagnoses and physical and mental HRQOL (SF-12v2) were obtained using six biennial surveys administered 2006–2016. Generalised Estimating Equation models, adjusted for time-constant and -varying factors, were employed to compare HRQOL and its determinants over time for older adults with and without a diagnosis of DM.ResultsDM was negatively associated with physical HRQOL [β (95% CI) − 7.43 (− 8.41, − 6.44)] with older adults affected by DM reporting scores 7.4 points lower than those without DM. Similarly, the mean Mental HRQOL score was lower among those affected by DM [β = − 4.97 (− 5.93, − 4.01)] however, scores increased over time for both groups (p < 0.001). Greater age, more chronic conditions, sight and sleep problems, obesity, lower annual income, and fewer years of education were predictors of poorer HRQOL among older adults.ConclusionsOlder adults affected by diabetes experienced poorer physical and mental HRQOL compared to those not affected when controlling for a range of sociodemographic and health related indices. A management aim must be to minimise the gap between two groups, particularly as people age.
Highlights
The current work examined experiences of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) among older adults with a diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) over time compared to those without a diagnoses DM
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) refers to these perceptions as they pertain to subjective impacts of physical, mental and social health states [9] and it is well recognised that the severe short and long-term complications arising from DM [10, 11] can have a negative impact on HRQOL [12]
The results showed that the SF12-Physical Component Score (PCS) decreased over time and having diabetes was negatively associated with the HRQOL-physical dimension
Summary
The current work examined experiences of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) among older adults with a diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) over time compared to those without a diagnoses DM. Type 2 diabetes is an important consideration for older adults, who are at increased risk in terms of onset and disease management due to age-related changes in metabolism and who represent a considerable number of patients [6]. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) refers to these perceptions as they pertain to subjective impacts of physical, mental and social health states [9] and it is well recognised that the severe short and long-term complications arising from DM [10, 11] can have a negative impact on HRQOL [12]. While cross-sectional studies showed the levels and determinants of HRQOL among those with a diagnosis of DM [14,15,16,17,18], such designs are unable to investigate these declines in HRQOL among adults affected by DM in older age or to clarify whether predictors may influence any such reduction
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