Adaptive responses among Dutch elderly: the impact of eight chronic medical conditions on health-related quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
This study analyzed the impact of eight common chronic medical conditions on functional, social, and affective domains of health-related quality of life among community-based Dutch elderly (n = 5279).


METHODS
Health-related quality of life was measured with six domains of the MOS Short-Form General Health Survey. The impact of the selected chronic conditions on health-related quality of life was analyzed by means of Student's t tests, analyses of variance, and multiple regression analyses.


RESULTS
Compared with other domains of health-related quality of life, mental health was the least affected by chronic medical conditions. Back problems and rheumatoid arthritis/other joint complaints accounted for relatively high proportions of the variance in health-related quality of life (from 35.5% to 68.3%), except for health perceptions (22.6%), indicating that health-related quality of life is most affected by these two conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Subjective well-being is by far the domain least affected by chronic medical conditions, while physical functioning and health perceptions are most affected. Back problems and rheumatoid arthritis/other joint complaints affect health-related quality of life strongly.
Kempen
G I
GI
Northern Centre for Health Care Research, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Ormel
J
J
Brilman
E I
EI
Relyveld
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires