Saurav Chandra Acharya Samadarshi, Pimsurang Taechaboonsermsak, Mathuros Tipayamongkholgul and Korravarn Yodmai
The purpose of the study is to assess the quality of life (QOL) of older adults and explore factors associated with it.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to assess the quality of life (QOL) of older adults and explore factors associated with it.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a remote community in Nepal. A total of 671 older adults aged 60 years were enrolled in the study. QOL was measured by WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.
Findings
Most participants were female (53.0%), illiterate (70.6%), married (64.2%) and living with family (59.3%). Among participants, 82.4% had fair QOL, and the autonomy domain received the lowest score (average = 10.98). After adjusting the model, the elderly aged <70 years had 11.07 times better QOL (aOR = 11.070; 95% CI = 2.546–48.123), elderly with high sufficient income had 2.73 times better QOL (aOR = 2.738; 95% CI = 1.183–6.337) and elderly free from depression had 9.45 times better QOL (aOR = 9.452; 95% CI = 3.466–25.773) compared to their counterparts. The elderly receiving social support had 9.97 times better QOL than those who did not (aOR = 9.976; 95% CI = 3.152–31.574), and those able to afford healthcare services had 4.69 times better QOL than those who could not afford it (aOR = 4.694; 95% CI = 1.046–21.063).
Originality/value
The five predictors – age, income sufficiency, depression, social support and healthcare service affordability – were found to significantly affect QOL. This study suggests special care strategies for vulnerable older adults addressing the issues that affect geriatric depression. This article provides relevant information to the government to consider increment of income, encourage family and community for social support and make health services affordable for older adults.
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Keywords
Nipaporn Butsing, Mathuros Tipayamongkholgul and Disya Ratanakorn
The purpose of this paper is to estimate the mean life expectancy (LE) and the expected years of life lost (EYLL) for ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to estimate the mean life expectancy (LE) and the expected years of life lost (EYLL) for ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage.
Design/methodology/approach
This retrospective cohort study included 5,210 patients with a diagnosis of first ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage between 2005 and 2013 from Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. The survival of each case was followed until December 31, 2016. A semiparametric extrapolation method was applied to estimate the lifetime survival function relative to an age and sex-matched reference population.
Findings
Of 5,210 patients, 74.2 percent experienced ischemic stroke. About 54.3 percent were men. Mean age at diagnosis was 64.3 years. The mean LE was 12.5 years for ischemic stroke and 12.0 years for intracerebral hemorrhage. The EYLL among patients with intracerebral hemorrhage was significantly higher than among those with ischemic stroke (10.1 vs 5.7). Women were expected to lose more LE than men for both types of stroke (p-value<0.05), while younger aged patients were expected to lose more years of life than older ones.
Originality/value
This study fulfilled an identified need to estimate LE and EYLL among patients with ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage.