title: Change and predictors of quality of life in institutionalized older adults with dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to assess the change in and predictive factors of the quality of life (QoL) of institutionalized older adults with dementia over a 20-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information was used from a follow-up study conducted over an average period of 19.61 ± 1.93 months on a sample of 274 institutionalized older adults aged 60 or over, diagnosed with dementia. Two linear regression models were built to predict change in the EQ-5D index and the quality of life in Alzheimer's disease (QOL-AD) scale, taking as independent variables: sociodemographic characteristics and measures of functional ability (Barthel Index), depression in dementia (Cornell Scale), number of chronic health problems, cognitive level (MEC, the Spanish Mini-Mental State Examination) and severity of dementia (Clinical Dementia Rating) at baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the participants were women (81.75 %) with an average age of 84.70 ± 6.51 years, single (78.15 %), with severe dementia and moderate functional dependence. There was a significant decrease on the EQ-5D, EQ-VAS and QOL-AD between baseline and follow-up scores. The main predictors of QoL of the institutionalized older adults with dementia were the number of chronic problems and baseline scores of the QoL measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant decrease in the QoL of institutionalized older adults was observed over a 20-month period. Results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing the number of chronic medical conditions may have a beneficial effect on older adults' QoL.
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine Service, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castro-Monteiro
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Forjaz
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Blazquez
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Mayoralas
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diaz-Redondo
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martinez-Martin
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D012112:Residential Facilities; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires