TY - JOUR T1 - Health-related quality of life in an elderly population in Iran: A population-based study TT - کیفیت زندگی مرتبط با سلامتی در سالمندان: مطالعه ای جمعیتی JF - payeshj JO - payeshj VL - 4 IS - 2 UR - http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-778-en.html Y1 - 2005 SP - 113 EP - 120 KW - Elderly KW - Health-related quality of life KW - Co-morbidity N2 - Objectives: To investigate health-related quality of life among an elderly population in Tehran, Iran and to study its relationship to co-morbidity and demographic variables. Methods: Using a stratified multi-stage cluster sampling method, a sample of people aged 60 years old and over was studied. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Iranian version of the short form health survey questionnaire (SF-36). Data on co-morbidity were collected for both short-term and chronic diseases. The latter included hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, cancers, neurological disorders, respiratory diseases and low back pain. Results: In all, 396 individuals were interviewed. The mean age was 67.9 (SD=±9.6) years, most were married (80%) and the mean duration of their formal education was 5.3 years. The results showed significant gender differences in all quality of life dimensions and for both short-term and long-standing diseases (P values ranging from 0.008 to <0.001). Also, it was found that demographic variables including age, employment status, marital status and educational level were significantly associated with most quality of life dimensions. Conclusion: The findings indicate that health-related quality of life in elderly people is highly dependent on both co-morbidity and demographic variables. Indeed, establishing effective geriatric health services for this vulnerable age group is essential. M3 ER -