Elderly Population Research Articles

Left atrial strain after paroxysmal atrial fibrillation linac-based cardiac radioablation in elderly population.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) may increase the risk of complication in aged patients. Stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR) is a non-invasive therapeutic alternative for cardiac arrhythmia. This sub-study evaluated left atrial strain (LAS) in elderly AF patients underwent STAR. Symptomatic paroxysmal AF patients aged > 70 years, with antiarrhythmic drugs failure or intolerance, enrolled in a phase II trial that have demonstrated the feasibility of LINAC-based STAR (total dose of 25Gy single fraction delivered in 3min), performed a 15-day electrocardiogram Holter monitoring to detect AF episodes (≥ 30s) and an echocardiographic LAS evaluation before and after STAR (at 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month). Out 18 patients underwent STAR in the trial, 16 (7 males, 78 ± 5 years) completed the follow-up for LAS study. No baseline difference in echocardiographic and LAS parameters was observed between the 9 patients with AF recurrence during follow-up and those who maintained sinus rhythm. At 6- and 12-month after STAR, LAS reservoir was lower in patients with AF episodes than those without (respectively, p = 0.039 and p = 0.001). Values of left atrial area and volume as well as LAS conduit and contractile phase were not statistically significant different by patient's outcome across evaluations. Although no baseline LAS parameter before STAR seems predict AF recurrence after treatment in elderly patients, lower values of reservoir phase were observed during follow-up in those experiencing AF episodes. More research is needed to better assess the value of LAS monitoring in paroxysmal AF patients underwent Stereotactic cardiac radioablation.

Incidence and intensity of catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment among the elderly: an empirical evidence from India

World health statistics (2022) report that about 1.4 billion people have incurred catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), and half of its population have pushed into extreme poverty due to healthcare payments. The elderly population faces a higher risk of ill health, and seeking treatment reflects in high out-of-pocket health spending (OOPHS) that results in CHE and further impoverishment. This study aims to investigate the incidence and intensity of OOPHS, CHE, and impoverishment among the older adults in India. Data utilizes from the 75th round of the national sample survey (NSS) based on household social consumption: health (schedule 25.0), 2018. The incidence and intensity of CHE and impoverishment among older adults in India estimated by using standard measures. The older adults spend about 17.4% of household consumption expenditure on healthcare services. The poorest older adults are spending the highest share of consumption expenditure (24.8%) on healthcare among economic quantiles. Similarly, the elderly from rural (20.3%), male (18.4%), scheduled castes (21.5%), and Hinduism (17.9%) show a larger share of consumption expenditure on healthcare services. The incidence and intensity of CHE among older adults are 46.5% and 16.1% at 10% threshold level of household consumption expenditure, respectively. However, as the threshold level rises the incidence and intensity of CHE decline. The estimates of normalized poverty gap using the poverty line of Tendulkar committee as well as Rangarajan committee show that the intensity of impoverishment among older adults are 56.4% and 57.9% respectively, which is quite high. Financial protection along with vision might mitigate the risk of CHE and impoverishment among older adults in India.

Renal and patient outcomes of emergency hemodialysis in elderly individuals: a retrospective cohort study.

The aging population, commonly defined as individuals aged 65 and above, faces an increased risk of kidney-related diseases. This study investigates emergency dialysis in the elderly population, focusing on indications, clinical and laboratory findings, renal status, and mortality rates. The data of 442 elderly patients (≥ 65years old) who underwent emergency dialysis at a tertiary university hospital were retrospectively examined. Demographics, comorbidities, emergency dialysis indications, clinical presentation, method, complications, pre/post-dialysis status, and follow-up were assessed. 74.9% of the patients had a history of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Emergency dialysis was mainly initiated due to hypervolemia (43.7%) and uremic symptoms (29.2%). Hypotension was the most common dialysis-related complication (34.4%). The mortality rate was 34.6%; among the survivors, 15.2% achieved complete renal recovery, while 32.5% and 52.3% developed dialysis-independent and -dependent CKD, respectively. In multivariate analysis, blood urea, serum sodium, mean arterial pressure, dyspnea, tachypnea, and tachycardia on admission were found to be associated with mortality. Our study provides insights into emergency dialysis challenges in the elderly population, emphasizing the need for personalized interventions and further research to improve care and outcomes in this growing demographic.

Knowledge Mapping of Macrophages in Osteoporosis: A Bibliometric Analysis (1999-2023).

Osteoporosis is a common metabolic disorder that significantly impacts quality of life in the elderly population. Macrophages play a crucial role in the development of osteoporosis by regulating bone metabolism through cytokine secretion. However, there is a lack of scholarly literature in the field of bibliometrics on this topic. This study provides a detailed analysis of the research focus and knowledge structure of macrophage studies in osteoporosis using bibliometrics. The scientific literature on macrophage research in the context of osteoporosis, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database spanning from January 1999 to December 2023, has been incorporated for bibliometric examination. The data is methodically analyzed and visually represented using analytical and visualization tools including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Scimago Graphica, the Bibliometrix R package, and Pajek. In the last quarter-century, there has been a consistent rise in the quantity of scholarly publications focusing on the relationship between macrophages and osteoporosis, resulting in a total of 1499 research documents. These studies have originated from 45 different countries, with China, South Korea, and the United States being the most prominent contributors, and the United States having the highest frequency of citations. Noteworthy research institutions involved in this field include Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Wonkwang University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Seoul National University. The Journal of Bone and Mineral Research is widely regarded as the premier and most frequently referenced publication in the field. These publications involve the collaboration of 8744 authors, with Lee Myeung Su contributing the most articles, and Takayanagi being the most co-cited author. Key emerging research focal points are encapsulated in keywords such as "mTOR," "BMSCs," "bone regeneration," and "exosome." The relationships between exosome from macrophage sources and those from BMSCs, along with the regulatory role of the mTOR signaling pathway on macrophages, represent crucial directions for future development in this field. This study represents the inaugural comprehensive bibliometric analysis detailing trends and advancements in macrophage research within the osteoporosis domain. It delineates recent frontiers and hotspots, providing valuable insights for researchers in this particular area of study.

Research on Design for the Elderly-Friendly Space Literature Review

As living standards continue to rise, so too does the elderly population's expectation for comfort and variety in their care spaces. Therefore, drawing upon diverse data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, and relevant manuals, we intend to undertake a study on aging-friendly space design, focusing on the physiological and psychological needs of the elderly. Our objective is to minimize the risk of accidents in their daily home activities and elevate their quality of life.

The association between osteoporosis and frailty: a cross-sectional observational study and mendelian randomization analysis

BackgroundOsteoporosis and frailty are two common features in the elderly population. Despite many review articles mentioning the association between osteoporosis and frailty, there is a lack of original research directly investigating their relationship. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the correlation between osteoporosis and frailty.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using logistic regression analysis to assess the association of osteoporosis with the frailty index. In addition, we further explored the causal relationship between them using Mendelian randomization (MR) study.ResultsIn the cross-sectional study, 19,091 non-frailty participants and 5878 frailty participants were included in this study. We observed a significant positive association between osteoporosis and frailty after adjusting for demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and alcohol use (OR = 1.454, 95% CI [1.142,1.851], P = 0.003). Moreover, the MR study showed a bidirectional causal relationship between osteoporosis and frailty. When osteoporosis was used as an exposure factor, the frailty pooled OR value calculated utilizing the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was 2.81 (95% CI [1.69, 4.68], P = 6.82 × 10− 5). When frailty was used as an exposure factor, the OR value calculated using the IVW method was 1.01 (95% CI [1.00,1.01], P = 3.65 × 10− 7).ConclusionsOsteoporosis was positively correlated with frailty, and the results remained robust after adjusting for covariates. Further, MR studies have shown a bidirectional causal relationship between osteoporosis and frailty.

Peri-implant fractures after Intramedullary fixation for femoral trochanteric fracture: a multicenter (TRON Group) study.

With the rise in elderly populations, the incidence of femoral trochanteric fractures has also increased. Although intramedullary nail therapy is commonly used, the incidence of peri-implant fractures (PIFs) as a complication and its associated factors are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of PIFs and treatment strategies and outcomes. A retrospective study across 11 hospitals from 2016 to 2020 examined 1855 patients with femoral trochanter fracture. After excluding 69 patients treated without intramedullary nailing, 1786 patients were analyzed. Parameters studied included age, sex, body mass index, medical history, and treatment methods. PIFs were categorized using the Chan classification. Treatment outcomes and patient mobility were assessed using the Parker Mobility Score, and postoperative complications and one-year survival data were compiled. The incidence of PIFs was 8 in 1786 cases. Chan classification showed 1 case of N1A, 6 of N2A, and 1 of N2B. Only the type N1 case was a transverse fracture, whereas all cases of type N2 were oblique fractures. Among these cases, five patients had fractures extending to the upper part of the femoral condyle. The patient with N1A and one bedridden patient with N2A fracture underwent conservative treatment, one patient with N2A in which the fracture did not extend to the condyle was treated with nail replacement, and 5 patients (N2A: 4, N2B: 1) with fractures extending to the condyle were treated with additional plate fixation. All patients had survived at one year after treatment for PIF, and no reoperations were required. The incidence of PIF was very low (0.45%). Of the 6 PIF cases, excluding the bedridden patients, the treatment of choice for PIF was an additional plate if the fracture line extended to the femoral condyle; otherwise, the nail was replaced. All patients achieved bony fusion. Therapeutic Level IV.

Identification of Passion Fruit Nutrients for Elderly People Using Network in Network Architecture: An Empirical Study in Thailand

The growing elderly population has led to a rise in health issues, particularly chronic diseases. Passion fruits contain numerous nutrients that may help in the treatment of chronic diseases. However, specific recommendations for daily passion fruit nutrient intake for the elderly are currently lacking in the literature. This research aimed to identify passion fruit groups and to suggest the appropriate daily passion fruit nutrient intake for elderly people using network in network (NiN) architecture. This research demonstrates that the NiN model can be effectively applied to identify passion fruit groups for the elderly. It is more efficient than other convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures. The results show that NiN can correctly identify passion fruit groups and suggest the appropriate amount of nutrient intake for the elderly, achieving + 96.76% accuracy in the training dataset and 95.89% accuracy in the validation dataset, surpassing 84.6% accuracy achieved by EaglAI. Sensitivity analysis of the NiN model using mean absolute error (MAE) for geometric transformations revealed consistent training image results and model robustness. This research benefits elderly people with chronic diseases by providing tailored recommendations for daily passion fruit intake, based on the analysis of sugar nutrients using the NiN model.

The Current Status of Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Care Literacy of the Elderly and Its Influencing Factors--Based on a Survey of 460 Elderly People

Objective: To understand the current status of knowledge and beliefs of Chinese medicine health care and its influencing factors among the elderly in Henan Province, and to provide reference for improving their Chinese medicine health care literacy. Methods: Using convenience sampling, 460 elderly people in Henan Province were selected to carry out a questionnaire survey on the current status of knowledge and beliefs of Chinese medicine and health care, and their influencing factors were analysed. Results: The standard score of knowledge of TCM health care for the elderly in Henan Province was (56.72±15.35), the standard score of attitude was (79.57±15.91), and the standard score of behaviour was (42.17±22.25); the residence place, education level, monthly disposable income, previous occupation, type of medical insurance, the presence of old-age insurance, the presence of chronic diseases, and the presence of relatives engaged in TCM-related occupations were statistically significant (P<0.05) in terms of the scores on the three dimensions of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour of TCM health care and the total score; senior high school/vocational high school/junior college (OR= 0.329, 95% CI: 0.137-0.791), workers (OR= 4.295, 95% CI: 1.023-18.044), and those who suffered from chronic diseases ( OR= 1.964, 95% CI: 1.171~3.294) significantly affect the knowledge score; business unit (OR= 0.135, 95% CI: 0.024~0.754), and having chronic disease (OR= 1.918, 95% CI: 1.168~3.151) significantly affect the attitude score; and 3001~5000 yuan (OR= 0.292, 95% CI: 0.105~0.812), workers (OR= 5.180, 95% CI: 1.311~20.47), others (OR= 4.698, 95% CI: 1.112~19.839), having old age insurance (OR= 1.641, 95% CI: 1.028~2.620), and suffering from chronic diseases (OR= 2.152, 95% CI: 1.280~3.617) and so on significantly influenced the behavioural scores. Conclusion: The attitude level of TCM health care among the elderly in Henan Province is good, and the knowledge and behaviour level needs to be improved. Long-term and stable health knowledge education for the elderly population should be carried out to strengthen the elderly's knowledge of TCM health care and further strengthen their beliefs in TCM health care in order to promote the formation of their TCM health care health behaviours.

Current issues of destination therapy in Japan: to achieve 5-year or even longer survival.

In April 2021, destination therapy (DT) was finally approved in Japan. Since DT does not aim at heart transplantation (HT), our goal is to have a patient safely remain on an implantable ventricular assist device (VAD) for the rest of his/her life. To achieve this goal, similarly to bridge-to-transplant (BTT) patients, the authors believe the following six aspects are even more crucial in DT patients: (1) to appropriately assess risks before implantation, (2) to carefully determine the ability to manage the device by multidisciplinary discussions, (3) to prevent complications by improving the quality of care, (4) to expand the number of facilities that can take care of DT patients by improving collaboration among the facilities, (5) to reduce the burden of caregivers by utilizing social resources, and (6) to establish a home palliative care system based on advance care planning. In addition, for elderly DT patients to live happy and long lives, it is essential to help them to find a purpose of life and to keep activities of daily living, such as employment, schooling, and participation in social activities, just like the general elderly population. Our goals are not only to do our best for the patients just in front of us, but also to establish a system to follow up our DT cohort, same as BTT one, by all-Japan manner. In the present review, we discuss the current state of DT in Japan and what we need to focus on to maintain or improve its long-term performance.

Evaluating Human-Care Robot Services for the Elderly: An Experimental Study

AbstractThe increase in elderly population is emerging as a serious social issue. The coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of elderly people suffering from depression and loneliness owing to the lack of face-to-face activities. In this study, we developed an integrated system for the human-care robot service, considering cognitive and emotional support for elderly people, and verified its stability and usefulness in the real world. We recruited 40 elderly people for an apartment testbed environment experiment and two elderly people living alone for a long time participated in the experiment at their homes. Quantitative experimental results were analyzed by comparing service success rates and user satisfaction in two different test environments to verify the stability of the service. Qualitative evaluations were also conducted through surveys and interviews to assess the usefulness of the service.

Campylobacteriosis is an Allied Disease in the Elderly

In this study we analysed campylobacteriosis cases in a tertiary care hospital of India to find out this is an isolated disease or an allied disease with comorbidities in elderly people. In all the four elderly cases, acute gastroenteritis by Campylobacter appears to be a contributory condition of the disease besides other associated diseases. Perceptive the link between this disease and comorbidities is crucial for effective prevention, early detection, and thorough care, in elderly populations with underlying health problems.

Percutaneous unilateral vertebro-stentoplasty for painful osteoporotic compression fracture of lumbar vertebra

Osteoporosis is one of the common diseases in the elderly population which can cause compression fracture of the vertebral body due to loss of microarchitecture, loss of density, and deterioration of bone tissue leading to chronic pain, kyphotic deformity of the vertebra, and neurological complications. We report the case of a 68-year-old female, who presented to us with severe midback region pain for one year, which was increased over two months along with numbness in the right leg and difficulty in walking. The radiological investigation and magnetic resonance imaging spine revealed chronic compression fracture with the reduction in height of the L1 vertebra, which is seen with anterior wedging. The patient underwent vertebro-stentoplasty (VS) with bone cement, polymethyl-methacrylate. The patient was discharged well on third day of surgery. The VS for compression fracture of the lumbar vertebra demonstrated better results with improvement in pain and radiological finding in our patient.

Emotion expressions and cognitive impairments in the elderly: review of the contactless detection approach

The aging population in Canada has been increasing continuously throughout the past decades. Amongst this demographic, around 11% suffer from some form of cognitive decline. While diagnosis through traditional means (i.e., Magnetic Resonance Imagings (MRIs), positron emission tomography (PET) scans, cognitive assessments, etc.) has been successful at detecting this decline, there remains unexplored measures of cognitive health that could reduce stress and cost for the elderly population, including approaches for early detection and preventive methods. Such efforts could additionally contribute to reducing the pressure and stress on the Canadian healthcare system, as well as improve the quality of life of the elderly population. Previous evidence has demonstrated emotional facial expressions being altered in individuals with various cognitive conditions such as dementias, mild cognitive impairment, and geriatric depression. This review highlights the commonalities among these cognitive health conditions, and research behind the contactless assessment methods to monitor the health and cognitive well-being of the elderly population through emotion expression. The contactless detection approach covered by this review includes automated facial expression analysis (AFEA), electroencephalogram (EEG) technologies and heart rate variability (HRV). In conclusion, a discussion of the potentials of the existing technologies and future direction of a novel assessment design through fusion of AFEA, EEG and HRV measures to increase detection of cognitive decline in a contactless and remote manner will be presented.

Early-life famine exposure may modify the association between long-term temperature variability and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases: a nationwide study

Abstract Background We aimed to evaluate whether the association between long-term temperature variability (TV) and CCVDs was affected by famine exposure in different age stages. 
Methods We used data from the fourth national Urban and Rural Elderly Population survey (2015). Participants were categorized into six groups based on their age at famine exposure (famine exposure under age 5, between ages 5 and 18, and during adulthood) and the severity (severely affected areas versus mildly affected areas) of the Great Chinese Famine (1959-1961) in their province of residence. Mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to quantify the association between long-term TV and the prevalence of CCVDs across six famine-exposed groups.
Findings A total of 222,179 participants were included. In severely affected areas, the odds ratio (OR) of CCVDs associated with per 1°C increase in 5-year average TV were 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 1.13) for those exposed to famine during adulthood, 1.28 (95% CI: 1.17, 1.40) under the age of 5 years. Urban residence, higher education, increased household income, and more frequent physical activity could mitigate the association between TV and CCVDs, particularly among those exposed to severe famine before the age of 5.
Conclusion Individuals exposed to famine before the age of 5 are more susceptible to TV-related CCVDs compared to those exposed during adulthood. Our findings highlight the importance of early-life nutrition in lowering susceptibility to CCVDs later in life.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of Cistanche tubulosa and Ginkgo biloba extracts for the improvement of cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly people.

Mild cognitive impairment poses an increasing challenge to middle-aged and elderly populations. Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs like Cistanche tubulosa and Ginkgo biloba (CG) have been proposed as potential agents to improve cognitive and memory functions. A randomized controlled trial involving 100 Chinese middle-aged and elderly participants was conducted to investigate the potential synergistic effects of CG on cognitive function in individuals at risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Over 90 days, both CG group and placebo group received two tablets daily, with each pair of CG tablets containing 72 mg echinacoside and 27 mg flavonol glycosides. Cognitive functions were assessed using multiple scales and blood biomarkers were determined at baseline, Day 45, and Day 90. The CG group exhibited significant improvements in the scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (26.5 at baseline vs. 27.1 at Day 90, p < 0.001), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (23.4 at baseline vs. 25.3 at Day 90, p < 0.001), and World Health Organization Quality of Life (81.6 at baseline vs. 84.2 at Day 90, p < 0.001), all surpassing scores in placebo group. Notably, both the Cognitrax matrix test and the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised demonstrated enhanced memory functions, including long-term and delayed memory, after CG intervention. Moreover, cognitive-related blood biomarkers, including total tau, pT181, pS199, pT231, pS396, and thyroid-stimulating hormone, significantly decreased, whereas triiodothyronine and free triiodothyronine significantly increased. No treatment-related adverse events were reported, and routine blood and urine tests remained stable. These findings indicated that CG supplementation could potentially serve as an effective supplementary solution for enhancing cognitive and memory functions.

Impact of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Very Elderly Population with Heart Failure with Reduce Ejection Fraction: Real Life Data

(1) Background: The validation of new lines of therapy for the elderly is required due to the progressive ageing of the world population and scarce evidence in elderly patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The purpose of our study is to analyze the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in this subgroup of patients. (2) Methods: A single-center, real-world observational study was performed. We consecutively enrolled all patients aged ≥ 75 years diagnosed with HFrEF and for treatment with SGLT2i, and considered the theoretical indications. (3) Results: A total of 364 patients were recruited, with a mean age of 84.1 years. At inclusion, the mean LVEF was 29.8%. Median follow-up was 33 months, and there were 122 deaths. A total of 55 patients were under SGLT2i treatment. A multivariate Cox logistic regression test for all-cause mortality was performed, and only SGLT2i (HR 0.39 [0.19–0.82]) and glomerular filtration rate (HR 0.98 [0.98–0.99]) proved to be protective factors. In parallel, we conducted a propensity-score-matched analysis, where a significant reduction in all-cause mortality was associated with the use of SGLT2i treatment (HR 0.39, [0.16–0.97]). (4) Conclusions: Treatment with SGLT2i in elderly patients with HFrEF was associated with a lower rate of all-cause mortality. Our data show that SGLT2i therapy could improve prognosis in the elderly with HFrEF in a real-world study.

Exploring the Link Between Intraocular Pressure and Central Corneal Thickness, as Well as the Diurnal Variation of Intraocular Pressure, in the Elderly Population of North Karnataka

Exploring the Link Between Intraocular Pressure and Central Corneal Thickness, as Well as the Diurnal Variation of Intraocular Pressure, in the Elderly Population of North Karnataka

Essential role of p21Waf1/Cip1 in the modulation of post-traumatic hippocampal Neural Stem Cells response

BackgroundTraumatic Brain Injury (TBI) represents one of the main causes of brain damage in young people and the elderly population with a very high rate of psycho-physical disability and death. TBI is characterized by extensive cell death, tissue damage and neuro-inflammation with a symptomatology that varies depending on the severity of the trauma from memory loss to a state of irreversible coma and death. Recently, preclinical studies on mouse models have demonstrated that the post-traumatic adult Neural Stem/Progenitor cells response could represent an excellent model to shed light on the neuro-reparative role of adult neurogenesis following damage. The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Waf1/Cip1 plays a pivotal role in modulating the quiescence/activation balance of adult Neural Stem Cells (aNSCs) and in restraining the proliferation progression of progenitor cells. Based on these considerations, the aim of this work is to evaluate how the conditional ablation of p21Waf1/Cip1 in the aNSCS can alter the adult hippocampal neurogenesis in physiological and post-traumatic conditions.MethodsWe designed a novel conditional p21Waf1/Cip1 knock-out mouse model, in which the deletion of p21Waf1/Cip1 (referred as p21) is temporally controlled and occurs in Nestin-positive aNSCs, following administration of Tamoxifen. This mouse model (referred as p21 cKO mice) was subjected to Controlled Cortical Impact to analyze how the deletion of p21 could influence the post-traumatic neurogenic response within the hippocampal niche.ResultsThe data demonstrates that the conditional deletion of p21 in the aNSCs induces a strong increase in activation of aNSCs as well as proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitors in the adult dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, resulting in an enhancement of neurogenesis and the hippocampal-dependent working memory. However, following traumatic brain injury, the increased neurogenic response of aNSCs in p21 cKO mice leads to a fast depletion of the aNSCs pool, followed by declined neurogenesis and impaired hippocampal functionality.ConclusionsThese data demonstrate for the first time a fundamental role of p21 in modulating the post-traumatic hippocampal neurogenic response, by the regulation of the proliferative and differentiative steps of aNSCs/progenitor populations after brain damage.

Health-Related Quality of Life for the Insured and Non-Insured Elderly in Rural Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction The growing number of elderlies in low—and middle-income countries is straining healthcare systems. Affordable health services are essential to prevent poor health outcomes and low quality of life. Health insurance can improve access to care and enhance the quality of life for elderly individuals. This study compares the quality of life of elderly individuals with and without health insurance. Methods A household survey was conducted in the Nzega and Igunga districts in the Tabora region of Tanzania from 2017 to 2022. The survey used a multistage sampling method to select wards, villages in each district, and households with elderly residents. The European Quality of Life 5-dimension 3-level (EQ-5D-3L) instrument was used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL), including the EQ-5D descriptive system and the EQ visual analog scale (EQ VAS). Value sets from Zimbabwe were used to calculate HRQoL. The survey used crude and adjusted linear regression analyses to assess the relationship between HRQoL and HI by accounting for confounding factors. Results A total of 1,899 elderly individuals aged 60 years and above participated in the study, with the majority (58%) falling in the 60-69 age group. Among the participants, 45% were married, and only 44% had insurance coverage. The overall mean EQ-5D and EQ-VAS scores were slightly higher for the uninsured elderly (0.75 and 61.20) compared to the insured elderly (0.73 and 60.31). According to the linear crude model, there is a decrease in HRQoL among the uninsured compared to the insured. This trend was also observed in the adjusted model, although it was not statistically significant (p=0.052). Conclusion Access to health insurance can significantly improve the HRQoL for elderly populations in Tanzania. These findings are crucial for policymakers. Extending health insurance coverage to vulnerable sub-populations like the elderly should be a priority, with targeted financial subsidies for HI premiums. This initiative would be a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage in Tanzania, ensuring a higher quality of life for all citizens.