J Korean Soc Biol Ther Psychiatry.  2021 Oct;27(3):173-179.

Self-Reported Versus Caregiver-Reported Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Elderly with Cognitive Impairment

• Cho SH
• Shin IS
• Kim JM
• Kim SW

Abstract

Objectives
：The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between elderly with cognitive impairment and caregiver ratings on quality of life in the participants. Furthermore, we assessed the relationship between elderly’s quality of life and cognitive function, activities of daily living, and depression.
Methods
：Seventy community-dwelling elderly with cognitive impairment and their caregivers participated. Each participants assessed elderly’s quality of life using the Korean version of Quality of Life-Alzheimer’s Disease (KQOL-AD) scale. The Korean Mini Mental Status Exam in the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) assessment packet (MMSE-KC), Seoul-instrumental activities of daily living (S-IADL) and Short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS) were also evaluated.
Results
：There were significant correlations between elderly and caregiver reports on all quality of life items and total KQOL-AD scores. There were no significant differences between them on all QOL items, except marriage.Total KQOL-AD Scores of self-reported quality of life were significantly correlated with SGDS scores (r=-0.623). Total KQOLAD scores of caregiver-reported quality of life were significantly correlated with MMSE-KC, S-IADL, and SGDS scores (r=0.239, r=-0.539, r=-0.384, respectively).
Conclusions
：Both self-reported quality of life and caregiver-reported quality of life in elderly with cognitive impairment were negatively associated with depression. Therefore, appropriated psychiatric intervention of depression in the elderly is essential to increase quality of life.

Keyword

Cognitive dysfunction; Quality of life; Depression