How Different are Quality of Life Ratings for People with Dementia Reported by Their Family Caregivers from Those Reported by the Patients Themselves?
Measurements of patient quality of life (QoL) play a major role in the management of dementia.



We investigated the self-proxy discrepancy of QoL ratings in the elderly and the impact of dementia severity on the discrepancy.



QoL of 718 patients with dementia and 651 non-demented elderly were rated by themselves and their caregivers (CG) using the Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD). The impact of the rater on the total and item scores of QoL-AD was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and differential response patterns between self and proxy were analyzed using differential item functioning (DIF) analysis.



Self-rated scores were higher than CG-rated scores in all diagnostic groups. The interaction between rater and diagnostic group was significant in total QoL-AD score and 5 item scores ('memory', 'marriage', 'chores around the house', 'do things for fun', and 'life as a whole'). The strength of the DIF increased with advancing dementia in these items.



Self-proxy rating discrepancy of QoL was influenced by the presence and severity of dementia only in five items.
Department of Biology, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France.
Louis
L
Jacob
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
Ji Won
JW
Han
Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, Korea.
Tae Hui
TH
Kim
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju Self-Governing Province, Korea.
Joon Hyuk
JH
Park
Department of Psychiatry, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea.
Seok Bum
SB
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea.
Jung Jae
JJ
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Medical Center, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Seung-Ho
SH
Ryu
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
Shin-Kyeom
SK
Kim
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyunggi Provincial Hospital for the Elderly, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
Jong Chul
JC
Yoon
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Korea.
Jin Hyeong
JH
Jhoo
Department of Psychiatry, Chungnam National University Hospital, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Korea.
Jeong Lan
JL
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Dongguk Medical Center, Seokjang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea.
Kyung Phil
KP
Kwak
Department of Psychiatry, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Seok Woo
SW
Moon
Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University, School of Medicine, Jinju-si, Gyeongnam-do, Korea.
Bong Jo
BJ
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Dong Young
DY
Lee
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.|Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Ki Woong
KW
Kim
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
Caregiver; dementia; discrepancy; proxy; quality of life; self