summary
Purpose:This study explored health-related quality of life (QoL) in Korean elderly individuals with hypertension, diabetes, and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Methods:This study used a population-based cross-sectional design. Data were obtained from the Fourth
Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008, which involved a nationally representative sample. Data on health-related QoL were collected using the EuroQoL-5 Dimension instrument
and via health interviews. The sample consisted of 1,467 Korean individuals aged 60 years and older. A
multiple linear regression model was used to analyze health-related QoL.
Results:After controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, individuals with one of the
aforementioned chronic diseases had lower EuroQoL-5 Dimension scores, ranging from 0.186 among
those with only hypertension to 0.469 among those with hypertension plus CVD, compared with those
without a chronic disease (higher scores are indicative of more limitations). The impact of comorbid
diseases was greater than that of any single disease except diabetes. CVD had a stronger negative impact
on QoL than did any other single disease studied. Whereas the physical elements of QoL were influenced
by all diseases, the psychological components were influenced only by hypertension plus diabetes and
hypertension plus CVD.
Conclusion:We found that both the number and the type of diseases affected QoL scores. Efforts to
prevent or manage diabetes, CVD, and related risk factors should include psychological support