title: Quality of life among elderly patients with dementia in institutions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study quality of life among the elderly with dementia in institutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients above 60 years with dementia, 82 in nursing home and 74 in departments of geriatric psychiatry, were included. They were assessed with the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID); the Self-Maintenance scale, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating scale. Patient's age, gender, previous medical and psychiatric history were recorded. Dementia was diagnosed according to ICD-10 criteria for research. Based on information in an interview with the patient and a carer and information in the patient's record, a geriatric psychiatrist made a diagnosis of major depression according to DSM-IV, if present.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' mean (± SD) age was 82.9 ± 7.7 years, 103 (66%) were women. A factor analysis of the QUALID scale resulted in two factors: 'discomfort' and 'comfort'. Three linear regression analyses were performed. Variables associated with lower quality of life (total QUALID score) were: a diagnosis of major depression (p < 0.001), lower score on MMSE (p = 0.032), impaired function in activities of daily living (p = 0.007) and female gender (p = 0.046). Variables associated with the 'discomfort' subscale score were: major depression (p < 0.001), lower score on MMSE (p = 0.006) and living in a department of geriatric psychiatry (p = 0.041). The 'comfort' subscale score was associated with impaired function in activities of daily living (p < 0.001). Explained variance for the three models was 34, 33 and 23%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quality of life is diminished among elderly patients in institutions and the most marked correlates were a diagnosis of major depression, worse performance in activities of daily living and worse cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Dementia Research, Centre for Aging and Health, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevaal, Oslo, Norway. maria.barca@aldringoghelse.no
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barca
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engedal
authors.forename: Jerson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laks
authors.forename: Geir
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Selbæk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009664:Norway; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*