Quality of life and its correlates in octogenarians. Use of the SEIQoL-DW in Wave 5 of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921 Study (ABC1921).
BACKGROUND
The direct-weighted Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life, Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) is an individualised measure of QoL that has been little used in very elderly people.


METHODS
We administered SEIQoL-DW during Wave 5 of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921 Study (ABC1921) and sought statistical correlations with other variables in the data set. ABC1921 participants had been IQ-tested in 1932 at age 11. Since 1997, data about cognition, mental/physical function, personality, health, and socioeconomic status have been gathered in five waves of investigations.


RESULTS
Ninety-six out of 98 individuals, mean age 82.2, completed the SEIQoL-DW. Health, family, relationships, finances and social pastimes were the commonest cues nominated, but age/gender differences existed. The mean SEIQoL-DW score (74.0) was significantly lower than in an approximately 60% sample from Wave 3, the fall being greater in men. Variables statistically associated with Wave 5 SEIQoL-DW usually reflected current rather than past status [including Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) components and depression], although there were weaker correlations with years of education, housing in childhood, conscientiousness, and IQ in 1998.


CONCLUSIONS
SEIQoL-DW proved feasible and acceptable in community-dwelling octogenarians. Recent (i.e. statelike) rather than early or long-standing (i.e. traitlike) influences appeared to have the greater effect on QoL.
Seymour
David Gwyn
DG
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK. d.g.seymour@abdn.ac.uk
Starr
John M
JM
Fox
Helen C
HC
Lemmon
Helen A
HA
Deary
Ian J
IJ
Prescott
Gordon J
GJ
Whalley
Lawrence J
LJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom