[Health-related quality of life and conditions of health in non-institutionalised elderly people in Cali, Colombia].
OBJECTIVE
Studying the quality of life and conditions of health for non-institutionalised elderly patients.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of elderly people aged over 65 years having no physical or psychic limitation disturbing communication between patient and doctor. The patients filled out the validated Spanish versión of the SF-12 health survey. Social-demographic and anthropometric variables were collected from clinical histories or patient interviews.


RESULTS
Mean age was 69,2+/-6,4 (69,8-74,3 95 % Cl, p<0.05), height 1,53+/-0,08 metres (1,52-1,54 95 %,CI, p<0,05), body weight 63,8+/-11,0 kg (61,8-64,3 95 % Cl) and body mass Index (BMI) 26,7+/-4,4 kg/m 2 (26,2-27,2 95 % Cl). Waist hip Index (WHI) was 8+/-0,06 cm (83-54 95 % Cl, p<0.05) and waist circumference was 89,0+/-9,5 (104,2-106,5 95 % Cl). The highest scores were awarded regarding vitality (59+/-10,9 %), mental health (52,7+/-12,5 %) and physical health (50,1+/-7 %). The lowest score was given for emotional role (19,2+/-4 %) and social role (24,1+/-4,5 %).


CONCLUSIONS
There has been an important deterioration in our elderly people's quality of life associated with morbidity risk factors, these being more pronounced on physical scales and slightly so on mental scales. Assessing subjective quality of life should become an every-day tool in our clinical practice.
Ramírez-Vélez
Róbinson
R
Fundación Universitaria María Cano, Cali. robin640@hotmail.com
Agredo
Ricardo A
RA
Jerez
Alejandra M
AM
Chapal
Liliam Y
LY
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008603:Mental Health; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires