Investigation of the Factors Affecting Quality of Life in Patients with Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study from Turkey
Abstract Background Like other chronic diseases with limited medical treatment, the most important goal of Alzheimer’s disease rehabilitation is to provide a better quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the quality of life of the patients with Alzheimer's Disease (according to parts of the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease Questionnaire: patient, proxy and total score). Methods In this cross-sectional study, 73 home-dwelling patients with Alzheimer's Disease and their caregivers were recruited. Cognition, depression and Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -self rating were asked to the patient. The caregiver was asked about patient’s sociodemographic information, sleepiness, activities of daily living and Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -proxy rating. Results The Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -self rating were higher than the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -proxy rating. Cognition (p = 0.02), sleepiness (p < 0.01) and depression (p = 0.03) were correlated with the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -self rating, while the independence level of the patient in activities of daily living was correlated to the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -proxy rating (p < 0.05). Predicting quality of life according to linear regression analysis those were statistically significant in respectively; depression is for Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease, depression and cognition were for Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -self rating and instrumental activities of daily living was for QoL-AD-PR (p < 0.01). Conclusion While subjective situations such as psychology is important for the patients with Alzheimer's Disease, objective conditions such as the independence of the patient’s in daily life activities are important for the caregiver. While evaluating the quality of life, both the evaluations of the patients with Alzheimer's Disease and the caregiver should be applied, because different things are prioritized by them and priorities of both should be taken into account when planning the treatment program.