title: [Impact or physiological factors on some dimensions of health-related quality of life of elder men].
abstract: The article presents a fragment of the study exploring relations between various factors and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of elder men. The aim of this article is to describe predictive influence of physiological variables (arterial blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1))) on several dimensions of HRQOL assessed by "Rand-36 Health Survey" questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study enroled 575 male outpatients aged 59-78 from seven small towns of Lithuania. The study population was based on the original sample, formerly explored by the staff of the Department of Propedeutics to Internal Medicine, Kaunas University of Medicine. Measures of BMI, FEV(1) and blood pressure came from the baseline investigation carried out in 1983. HRQOL was assessed by means of standardized generic questionnaire. The predictive influence of physiological factors on current scores of HRQOL dimensions was determined by logistic regression analysis, controlling for the influence of sociodemographic, lifestyle and other factors. RESULTS. Physiological factors predicted scores of physical functioning, general health perceptions and emotional wellbeing. Systolic blood pressure >129 mmHg was associated with increased odds of relatively poor emotional status (OR=1.79, p=0.047). Diastolic blood pressure >80 mmHg was associated with a twofold increase in odds of poor physical functioning (OR=2.34, p=0.0013). Body mass index >34.9 kg/m(2) predicted poor physical functioning and worse general health perceptions in older age (OR=1.97, p=0.027 and OR=2.38, p=0.009, respectively). Measures of FEV(1) were associated with scores of physical functioning. 10% increase in FEV(1) was associated with reduction in odds of poor physical functioning by 52% (OR=0.48, p=0.045). CONCLUSIONS. BMI>34.9 kg/m(2) among men in adult age was related to poor physical functioning and worse perceptions of health in older age. Systolic blood pressure >129 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure >80 mmHg were predictive of worse emotional wellbeing and physical functioning, respectively. Higher measures of FEV(1) were associated with better physical functioning in later years.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004644:Emotions; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires