title: The role of individual characteristics and physical frailty on health related quality of life (HRQOL): a cross sectional study of Italian community-dwelling older adults.
abstract: The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between individual characteristics and HRQOL, and to identify which components of physical frailty measured according to Fried's criteria provided a better explanation of HRQOL. Two hundred and fifty-nine older adults (age 74±6 years; 69% were women) living in Piemonte Region were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Socio-demographic and medical characteristics were captured by self-reported questionnaires. Physical frailty was assessed using the five criteria of Fried: shrinking, weakness, poor endurance and energy, slowness, and low physical activity level. HRQOL was measured with the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), using both the mental (MCS) and the Physical Component Summary (PCS). Among individual characteristics, gender was the best predictor for SF-36, the MCS, and the PCS, with values of R(2) of 12.7%, 12.1%, and 8.8%, respectively. Among the five Fried's criteria, poor endurance and energy had the largest effect on HRQOL with values of ΔR(2) of 13.9% for SF-36, 13.4% for the MCS, and 9.4% for the PCS. Results highlighted the role of the individual characteristics and the single weight of the five components of physical frailty on HRQOL. This knowledge may give new insights about the relations between individual functioning and self-rated health, allowing the development of individualized and more effective preventive interventions for a healthy aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Via Verdi, 10, 10124 Torino (IT), Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulasso
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Via Verdi, 10, 10124 Torino (IT), Italy; Department of Developmental Psychology, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Grote, Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen (NL), The Netherlands. Electronic address: mattia.roppolo@unito.it.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roppolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Via Verdi, 10, 10124 Torino (IT), Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rabaglietti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006262:Health; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D016852:Housing for the Elderly; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Aged population; Frailty; Health related quality of life; Socio-demographic characteristics