Asian Nurs Res.  2014 Dec;8(4):267-273. 10.1016/j.anr.2014.10.002.

Effects of Hypertension, Diabetes, and/or Cardiovascular Disease on Health-related Quality of Life in Elderly Korean Individuals: A Population-based Cross-sectional Survey

• Chin YR
• Lee IS
• Lee HY

• KMID: 2070314
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2014.10.002

Abstract

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.

Keyword

cardiovascular disease; comorbidity; diabetes mellitus; hypertension; quality of life

MeSH Terms

Aged
Cardiovascular Diseases/*epidemiology
Comorbidity
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes Mellitus/*epidemiology
Female
Health Status
Humans
Hypertension/epidemiology
Linear Models
Male
Middle Aged
Nutrition Surveys
*Quality of Life
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Factors