Abstract
Introduction: Life-space and frailty are closely linked to health-related quality of life and understanding their inter-relationship could indicate potential intervention targets for improving quality of life. We set out to examine the relationship between frailty and life-space and their relative impact on quality of life measures. Methods: Using cross-sectional data from a population-representative cohort of people aged ≥ 70 years, we assessed quality of life with the EuroQol Health Index tool (5-levels) (EQ-5D-5L). We also undertook a life-space assessment and derived a frailty index. Linear regression models estimated EQ-5D-5L scores (dependent variable) using life-space assessment, frailty index and interactions between them. All models were adjusted by age, sex, lifestyle, and social care factors. Results: A higher EQ-5D Index was associated with higher life-space (0.02 per life-space assessment score, 95%CI: 0.01 to 0.03, p < 0.01) and decreasing frailty (-0.1 per SD, 95%CI: -0.1 to -0.1, p < 0.01). There was evidence of an interaction between life-space and frailty, where the steepest gradient for life-space and EQ-5D was in those with the highest frailty (interaction term = 0.02 per SD of frailty, 95%CI: 0.01 to 0.03, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Individuals with the highest frailty were twice as likely to have higher quality of life in association with a larger life-space. Interventions designed to improve quality of life in frail older people could focus on increasing a person’s life-space.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 646 |
| Journal | BMC Geriatrics |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This report is independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research ARC North Thames through a doctoral studentship awarded to PC. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health and Social Care. DELPHIC is supported by the Wellcome Trust through a fellowship award to DD (WT107467). The MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL received core funding through the Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00019/1). AT is funded through an Alzheimer’s Society clinical research training fellowship. SDS receives funding from the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't