title: Effects of hypertension, diabetes, and/or cardiovascular disease on health-related quality of life in elderly Korean individuals: a population-based cross-sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored health-related quality of life (QoL) in Korean elderly individuals with hypertension, diabetes, and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a population-based cross-sectional design. Data were obtained from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008, which involved a nationally representative sample. Data on health-related QoL were collected using the EuroQoL-5 Dimension instrument and via health interviews. The sample consisted of 1,467 Korean individuals aged 60 years and older. A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze health-related QoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, individuals with one of the aforementioned chronic diseases had lower EuroQoL-5 Dimension scores, ranging from 0.186 among those with only hypertension to 0.469 among those with hypertension plus CVD, compared with those without a chronic disease (higher scores are indicative of more limitations). The impact of comorbid diseases was greater than that of any single disease except diabetes. CVD had a stronger negative impact on QoL than did any other single disease studied. Whereas the physical elements of QoL were influenced by all diseases, the psychological components were influenced only by hypertension plus diabetes and hypertension plus CVD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that both the number and the type of diseases affected QoL scores. Efforts to prevent or manage diabetes, CVD, and related risk factors should include psychological support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, Chungwoon University, Chungnam, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ran
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: In Sook
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Administration, Dongseo University, Busan, South Korea. Electronic address: princesa@hitel.net.
authors.forename: Hyo Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: cardiovascular disease; comorbidity; diabetes mellitus; hypertension; quality of life