Abstract
BackgroundAn ageing population worldwide needs to investigate quality of life (QoL) and level of functioning (LoF) in the elderly and its associated variables. We aimed to study the relationship between Quality of Life (QoL) and Level of Functioning (LoF) in an elderly population in Europe.MethodAs part of the Ment_Dis65+ European Project, 3142 community-dwelling adults aged 65–84 years in six countries were assessed by using the adaptation for the elderly of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI65+) to provide psychiatric diagnosis according to the International Classification of Diseases (10th edition) (ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders). Socio-demographic and clinical interviews, and two self-report tools, the World Health Organization QoL assessment (WHO QoL BREF), to assess QoL, and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule -II (WHODAS-II), to assess LoF, were also administered.ResultsMost subjects reported good levels of QoL (56.6%) and self-rated health (62%), with no or mild disability (58.8%). There was a linear decrease of the QoL and the LoF by increase of age. Elderly with ICD-10 mental disorder (e.g. somatoform, affective and anxiety disorders) had poorer QoL and lower LoF. There were a number of predictors of lower levels of QoL and disability, including both socio-demographic variables (e.g. male gender, increase in age, poor financial situation, retirement, reduced number of close significant others), ICD-10 psychiatric diagnosis (mainly anxiety, somatoform disorders) and presence of medical disorders (mainly heart and respiratory diseases).ConclusionsThe study indicates that QoL and LoF were quite acceptable in European elderly people. A series of variables, including psychiatric and somatic disorders, as well as socio-demographic factor influenced in a negative way both QoL and LoF. More specific links between mental health, social and health services dedicated to this segment of the population, should be implemented in order to provide better care for elderly people with conditions impacting their QoL and functioning.
Highlights
An ageing population worldwide needs to investigate quality of life (QoL) and level of functioning (LoF) in the elderly and its associated variables
The study indicates that QoL and LoF were quite acceptable in European elderly people
More specific links between mental health, social and health services dedicated to this segment of the population, should be implemented in order to provide better care for elderly people with conditions impacting their QoL and functioning
Summary
An ageing population worldwide needs to investigate quality of life (QoL) and level of functioning (LoF) in the elderly and its associated variables. Disability and poor level of functioning has been found to be an independent risk factor for depression, [8] and as a key dimension associated with impairment of quality of life, [9] which, in turn, is associated with mental disorders [10] Similar results, confirming these data, have been reported in other studies carried out in Spain, [11, 12] and Asia [13, 14] indicating that mental disorders, especially anxiety, depression and adjustment disorders, had a higher impact of on health related QoL and LoF, than chronic physical conditions. Mainly anxiety disorders, followed by mood disorders, and alcohol disorders were related to disability in all domains of functioning, to the same degree or higher than physical disorders, [17] with lowest levels of QoL in the Netherlands and highest in Italy [18]
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