title: [The impact of chronic disease on the quality of life of the elderly in São Paulo (SP, Brazil)].
abstract: The aim of this article is to evaluate the impact of chronic disease on the quality of life of elderly people living in São Paulo (SP, Brazil).
  
  
  METHODS
  cross-sectional study of individuals over 60; application of a standardized questionnaire and the Short-Form 36 item questionnaire. Statistical analysis describes the clinical and demographic data and ANOVA was used for the correlation of the SF-36 domains with age and the number of morbidities. 353 individuals were evaluated. The mean age was 71.6 years, with 48.7% men and 51.3% women. The women presented the worst levels of quality of life in all domains evaluated. ANOVA revealed significant variation in the quality of life in several areas as the number of morbidities increased. The most compromised domain was physical aspects (p<0.05). The same analysis, applied to the average of the domains by age group, showed an inverse relation of Functional Capacity (p<0.05) with age. The increase in the number of morbidities and the increasing age significantly affect several areas of quality of life in the elderly. The SF-36 appears to be a valid instrument for assessing quality of life of the elderly Brazilian population.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-900.
authors.forename: Alessandro Gonçalves
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Campolina
authors.forename: Patrícia Skolaude
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Dini
authors.forename: Rozana Mesquita
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ciconelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D014504:Urban Health