AUTHOR=Hwang Horim A. , Jeong Hyunsuk , Yim Hyeon Woo 

TITLE=Health-related quality of life of Korean older adults according to age, sex, and living arrangements: a cross-sectional study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1281457

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1281457

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=The number and proportion of elderly individuals living alone is a significant issue. While the number of the oldest old people is also expected to increase, their health characteristics are poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the health-related quality of life [HRQoL] of the oldest old people according to age, sex, and living arrangements.METHODS: This study is based on the Korea Community Health Survey 2021. Among the survey's 229,242 observations, 73,617 observations aged 65 or higher were used for the analysis. The study participants were divided into 5-year age intervals (from 65-69 to 90+), sex, and living arrangements. The outcome variables are the EuroQol 5 Dimensions [EQ-5D] index score and the problem reporting rates of the five dimensions of EQ-5D.The mean EQ-5D index scores were 0.896 at 65-69 and 0.741 at 90+. The mean EQ-5D index score decreased more rapidly as age increased. Women showed consistently lower mean EQ-5D index scores than men in all age intervals. The proportion of elderly individuals living alone increased from 18.1% at 65-69 to 43.6% at 90+. The odds of reporting problems in anxiety/depression among elderly men living alone were estimated to be significantly higher than elderly men living with someone (aOR 1.22 95% CI 1.05-1.43). The odds of reporting problems in self-care and usual activity among elderly women living alone were estimated to be significantly lower than elderly women living with someone (aOR 0.88 95% CI 0.70-0.83 and aOR 0.88 95% CI 0.82-0.94) CONCLUSION: This study showed that elderly individuals' HRQoL deteriorates as their age increases. Moreover, living alone may lead to different effects on elderly individuals' HRQoL according to sex. More comprehensive studies and collaborative attention are needed to identify and provide customized care for elderly individuals.