Factors associated with health-related quality of life in community-dwelling elderly people in China

Aim Few studies have comprehensively evaluated the factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the elderly. The purpose of the study is to identify the factors associated with HRQOL using a comprehensive geriatric assessment of community-dwelling elderly people in Beijing, China. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 896 community-dwelling elderly people in Beijing was conducted through face-to-face interviews. Data regarding sociodemographic factors, chronic disease (assessed by the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics, CIRS-G), common geriatric syndromes and HRQOL (assessed by the EuroQol 5-Dimension questionnaire, EQ-5D) were collected using a structured questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors related to HRQOL. Results The CIRS-G comorbidity index was negatively related to the EQ-5D index and EQ-Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (P < 0.05). Geriatric syndromes such as chronic pain and non-optimal nutrition were negatively related to HRQOL (P < 0.05), and the negative influence of geriatric syndromes on the EQ-5D index was stronger than that of the cumulative comorbidities. Functional status in daily living activities was positively related to HRQOL (P < 0.05). Receiving care from children was positively related to EQ-VAS (P < 0.05). Conclusions Besides cumulative comorbidities and geriatric syndromes, in particular nutritional problems and chronic pain exert a substantial negative impact on the HRQOL of elderly people in China, whereas family support is an important protective factor. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; center dot center dot: center dot center dot-center dot center dot.