Quality of Life in European Older Adults of SHARE Wave 7: Comparing the Old and the Oldest-Old.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Oliver A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8268858 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundThe quality of life (QoL) of older adults is a key aspect of healthy ageing, and older adults' socioeconomic status (SES), the neighbourhood they live in and their social networks (SN) are known to impact QoL. However, little is known about the interaction between these concepts. The aim was to examine how SN, SES and neighbourhood type are associated with QoL in older adults.Methods: Wave 4 (year 2011) and wave 6 (year 2015) data from the longitudinal Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe were used for the analysis. Multilevel regression models estimated the associations including 34 792 participants from wave 4 and 67 334 participants from wave 6 from 16 countries (mean age = 66.45 years). The outcome variable was QoL, independent variables were SES (education and making end meet) and neighbourhood type (housing type and housing area), and SN variables (satisfaction and size) were the moderators.Results: SES and SN variables were positively associated with QoL. Living in a house or duplex was positively associated with QoL compared with living in a farmhouse. SN moderated the association between education and QoL. The effect of area type on QoL was moderated by SN size. SN satisfaction was an independent correlate of QoL.Conclusion: Older adults' satisfaction with their SN may be more important than having a large SN. Low SES older adults may be more prone to having weak SN. Maintaining and creating supportive SN may attenuate the negative effects of low SES or less favourable neighbourhood characteristics.
| S-EPMC8530164 | biostudies-literature
Project description:OBJECTIVES:The oldest old population has become the fastest growing segment with excess need of care and social support, it is crucial to improve the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of these populations. This study seeks to evaluate the health status and to investigate modifiable factors associated with health-related quality of life for oldest old adults in China. DESIGN:A cross-sectional population-based study. SETTING:Hainan Province in the south of China. PARTICIPANTS:1,278 adults aged 80 years or older. METHODS:HRQoL was assessed by three-level EuroQol-5D scale (EQ-5D-3L) and a visual analogue scale (VAS). Demographic and health-related variables were analysed by estimating mean values and standard deviations for continuous variables, percentages and standard deviations for categorical variables. Tobit regressions, ordinary least Squared (OLS) regressions and ordered probit regressions were adopted to determine the associated factors for overall HRQoL and for each health dimension. RESULTS:Anxiety/depression was the least reported problem while mobility was the most frequently reported with problem. Female respondents had lower EQ-5D score (0.76 vs. 0.86) and VAS score (66.55 vs. 69.84) than male respondents. Better health-related quality of life was significantly associated with higher BMI, no drinking habit, more leisure activities, living with family members, good sleeping quality, closer social and family connections, fewer numbers of drugs consumed per day, without having hearing or visual impairment, and fewer chronic conditions, after controlling for potential confounders. CONCLUSION:Findings from this study suggested that quality of life was not only associated with age-related diseases, but also correlated with a range of health-related lifestyles, and factors indicating social and family support.
| S-EPMC7064459 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Emerging studies have suggested an association between grip strength and health-related quality of life (QOL). However, evidence for which specific domains of QOL are associated with grip strength remains limited and inconsistent. Particularly, such evidence is scarce in the oldest old, who constitute one of the most vulnerable populations. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between grip strength and overall QOL as well as specific domains in the oldest old. It included 400 community-dwelling older adults aged 80 years or older from Shanghai, China. QOL was assessed using the WHO Quality of Life of Older Adults instrument, and grip strength was measured using a digital spring-type dynamometer. On average, the overall QOL score was 54.68 (SD = 12.05). Estimates of risk-adjusted linear regressions indicated that higher grip strength was associated with better overall QOL (β = 4.40, p < 0.001) as well as the domains of autonomy (β = 6.74, p < 0.001); fulfillment with past, present, and future activities and achievements (β = 3.52, p = 0.004); and satisfaction with social participation (β = 6.72, p < 0.001). Our findings highlight the importance of maintaining or improving grip strength in delaying or reducing the decline in QOL among the community-dwelling oldest old. Also noteworthy is that the associations between grip strength and specific domains of QOL in the oldest old vary.
| S-EPMC8656506 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This article focuses on the scientific study of quality of life in old age and summarises, on the one hand, what we know and, on the other, what further research is needed. It consists of three main parts, with an extended introduction charting the recent evolution of a European perspective on ageing. First of all, it emphasises the amorphous, multidimensional and complex nature of quality of life and the high level of inconsistency between scientists in their approach to this subject. Secondly, the article summarises the main areas of consensus about quality of life in old age-its dynamic multifaceted nature, the combination of life course and immediate influences, the similarities and differences in the factors determining quality of life between younger and older people, the most common associations with quality of life and the likely variations between groups, and the powerful role of subjective self-assessment. Thirdly, the main research priorities and gaps in knowledge are outlined, together with the key methodological issues which must be tackled if comparative, interdisciplinary research on quality of life is to develop further. The main sources for the article are two European Framework Programme projects-the one a small five-country comparison and the other a large multidimensional project which, among other things, has been developing recommendations for research on quality of life in old age and included an extensive literature review on this topic. The article also draws on the recently completed UK Growing Older Programme of research on extending quality of life.
| S-EPMC5547671 | biostudies-other
Project description:IntroductionSeveral studies have suggested that physical activity and sedentary behavior are strongly and independently associated with body composition and obesity. However, few studies have investigated whether substituting sedentary time with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with body composition in older adults, especially among those older than 75 years.MethodsThis study examined the associations between replacing sedentary time with physical activity and obesity indices in a sample of 199 community-dwelling older Taiwanese adults (52.3% women; 80.6 ± 7.0 years). Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using the triaxial accelerometer (GT3X+, ActiGraph). Body composition indices were computed through a bioelectrical impedance analysis of body fat percentage and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index. Waist circumference and body mass index were measured by trained personnel. Isotemporal substitution analyses estimated these associations after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status.ResultsThe study showed that substituting 30 min of sedentary behavior per day with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with lower body fat percentage (B = -1.408, 95% CI = -2.55, -0.264), body mass index (B = -0.681, 95% CI = -1.300, -0.061), and waist circumference (B = -2.301, 95% CI = -4.062, -0.539) after adjusting for covariates. Substituting 30 min of light physical activity per day with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with lower waist circumference (B = -2.230, 95% CI = -4.173, -0.287) after adjusting for covariates. Stratified analyses indicated that associations were stronger in youngest-old older adults, and in older adults with a normal nutritional status (vs. underweight status).DiscussionThese findings confirm the importance of reducing sedentary behavior and increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among older adults to improve their physical health, as well as highlighting the importance of taking into account nutritional status and age group.
| S-EPMC9746713 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Introduction: The literature draws a mitigated picture of the psychosocial effects of the lockdown in older adults. However, the studies conducted so far are mainly based on web surveys which may involve selection bias. The PACOVID survey relies on a population-based design and addresses the attitudes, psychological and social experiences of the oldest old regarding the pandemic and lockdown and their impact. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional phone survey involving 677 persons. Baseline report on attitudes, psychological, and social experiences of the oldest old, regarding the pandemic and lockdown measures. Results: The mean age was 87.53 (SD 5.19). About 46% were living alone during the lockdown. Concerning difficulties, "none" was the most frequent answer (35.6%). For questions addressing how often they had felt sad, depressed, or lonely (CESD-scale), the most frequent answers were "never/very rarely" (58.7, 76.6, 60.8%) and 27.1% had anxious symptomatology (STAI scale). Most (92.9%) felt socially supported. Engaging in leisure activities was the most frequent coping strategy, and for numerous participants the lockdown did not represent much of a change in terms of daily routine. A very good knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 and the safety measures was observed. Comparisons with measures collected before the pandemic showed low changes in subjective health and the CES-D questions. Discussion: With a methodological design limiting selection bias, our results claim for a weakened psychosocial impact even though the participants are concerned and aware of the pandemic issues. These results highlight the resources and resilience abilities of older persons including in advancing age.
| S-EPMC8417796 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess whether cumulative disadvantage in childhood misfortune and adult-life socioeconomic conditions influence the risk of frailty in old age and whether welfare regimes influence these associations.MethodData from 23,358 participants aged 50 years and older included in the longitudinal SHARE survey were used. Frailty was operationalized according to Fried's phenotype as presenting either weakness, shrinking, exhaustion, slowness, or low activity. Confounder-adjusted mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to analyze associations of childhood misfortune and life-course socioeconomic conditions with frailty.ResultsChildhood misfortune and poor adult-life socioeconomic conditions increased the odds of (pre-)frailty at older age. With aging, differences narrowed between categories of adverse childhood experiences (driven by Scandinavian welfare regime) and adverse childhood health experiences (driven by Eastern European welfare regime), but increased between categories of occupational position (driven by Bismarckian welfare regime).DiscussionThese findings suggest that childhood misfortune is linked to frailty in old age. Such a disadvantaged start in life does not seem to be compensated by a person's life-course socioeconomic trajectory, though certain types of welfare regimes affected this relationship. Apart from main occupational position, our findings do not support the cumulative dis/advantage theory, but rather show narrowing differences.
| S-EPMC7265805 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesThe current study aimed to understand the reciprocal relationship between social networks and mental health in old age. It explored the dynamic aspects of that relationship and assessed the influence of social networks on mental health, as well as a concurrent influence of mental health on change in social connectedness.MethodThe data came from two measurement points in the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The analytic sample was composed of adults aged 65 years and above (N = 14,706). Analyses were conducted via latent change score models.ResultsAnalyses showed a reciprocal association between social networks and mental health; baseline social connectedness led to mental health improvements and a better initial mental state led to richer social networks. The results further indicated that the relative effect of mental health on change in social network connectedness was greater than the corresponding effect of social network connectedness on change in mental health. No gender differences were found regarding the reciprocal associations.DiscussionThe results of this study demonstrate the dynamic inter-relationship of social networks and mental health. It highlights the need to take into account both directions of influence when studying the impact of social relationships on mental health.
| S-EPMC6460342 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The objectives of this study are to detect the main components of global quality of life (QoL) of community-dwelling older adults from their own perspective and to identify determinants of health-related and global QoL in the same population. This is a cross-sectional study covering a representative sample of 1,106 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older residing in Spain. The survey collected information on QoL through a face-to-face interview asking for QoL components in free-format, as well as the completion of two QoL measures, the EQ-5D and the Personal Wellbeing Index. The most important QoL dimensions, according to the participants of this study, were health, family, and finances. Depression was the main determinant of both QoL indices, while functional independence and social support specifically influenced health-related and global QoL, respectively. Based on the perspective of the older adults as well as on statistical analysis, this work emphasizes the importance of health, family, and social support as areas of special interest in aging. There was a discrepancy when comparing findings related to the importance of financial status. Results also support that global and health-related QoL share some common determinants, but with different weights for functional independence and social support.
| S-EPMC5547413 | biostudies-other
Project description:BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a key outcome in arthritis, but few population-based studies have examined the relationship of specific arthritic conditions, such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with HRQOL. METHODS: Older adults in Pennsylvania completed a mail version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HRQOL modules. Medicare data were used to identify subjects with OA, RA, and no arthritis diagnosis. We compared HRQOL responses among these groups, and we also examined relationships of demographic characteristics to HRQOL among subjects with arthritis. RESULTS: In analyses controlling for demographic characteristics and comorbidity, subjects with OA and RA had poorer scores than those without arthritis on all HRQOL items, including general health, physical health, mental health, activity limitation, pain, sleep, and feeling healthy and full of energy. HRQOL scores were also lower for those with RA compared to OA. Among individuals with arthritis, all subject characteristics (including age, race, sex, nursing home residence, marital status, income, and comorbid illnesses) were significantly related to at least one HRQOL item. Older age, nursing home residence, and greater comorbidity were the most consistently associated with poorer HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study show that both OA and RA have a significant impact on multiple dimensions of HRQOL among older adults. Results also suggest the CDC HRQOL items are suitable for use among older adults and in mail surveys. Due to the rising number of older adults in many countries, the public health burden of arthritis is expected to increase dramatically. Efforts are needed to enhance access to medical care and disseminate self-management interventions for arthritis.
| S-EPMC324570 | biostudies-literature