title: Trajectories of health-related quality of life differ by age among adults: results from an eight-year longitudinal study.
abstract: To date, only a few studies have assessed determinants of health trajectories using longitudinal health survey data. Multilevel models were used to estimate health-related quality of life trajectories and assess factors associated with variations among trajectories, controlling for mortality effects and cohort membership. Four biennial cycles (1996/97-2004/05) of the Canadian National Population Health Survey were used. Information for 13,665 respondents, including those who were subsequently institutionalized and/or died, was used. A typical life-course trajectory was concave with a slow decline until the age of 60, followed by a more rapid decline. Receiving social assistance, lower education and not being married had significant negative impacts on trajectories for young (age 18-39) and middle-aged (40-64). Chronic conditions and health behaviours such as smoking were important for seniors (65+). It is important to focus on the most relevant and important determinants of health in each phase of life.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G3. kasakawa@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asakawa
authors.forename: Ambikaipakan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senthilselvan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feeny
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Darryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rolfson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult