Archives of Hellenic Medicine

Last update:

05-Dec-2022

Arch Hellen Med, 39(6),November-December 2022, 751-759

REVIEW

Health related quality of life of elderly patients with chronic diseases living independently in the community

E. Arvanitaki,^1,2,3 M. Sarris¹
¹Department of Business Administration, School of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens,
²Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens,
³Department of Elderly's Protection, Open Elderly Care Centers of Municipality of Keratsini-Drapetsona, Keratsini, Greece

Health related quality of life (HRQoL) is a broad concept, referring to the parameters that constitute health, namely the physical, mental and social well-being of people, as differentiated by diseases, injuries and applied therapeutic interventions, estimated by self-evaluation. Chronic diseases are common in the elderly who live independently in the community, and may exert a significant effect on almost all aspects of their QoL. Comorbidity further aggravates the HRQoL profile, and other factors that usually modify the HRQoL status are age, gender, marital and financial status, place of residence, level of education, employment, lifestyle, self-care capacity and life satisfaction. Early identification of patients with chronic diseases who are at risk of lower QoL should be the basis of community care programs for the elderly who live independently in the community.

Key words: Aging, Chronic diseases, Community, Elderly, Health related quality of life, Quality of life.