Aim:
The study of the impact of socio-economic, demographic factors and polymorbidity
on the quality of life associated with health (HRQoL) in elderly people from Japan and Russia.
Background:
Factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly in both countries are poorly understood.
Objective:
Make a comparative analysis of factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly of both
sexes in Japan and Russia.
Methods:
The age range in this study is 65-95 years old. For the study of HRQoL, a questionnaire
Health Status Survey-Short Form 36v2 was used, including two main domains: physical and mental
health. The level of polymorbidity was studied using CIRS-G. The linear regression model of the
influence of variables upon HRQoL was calculated for SES, demographic characteristics, and morbidity.
Results:
Strong associations with HRQoL in the combined sample had a living together with relatives
(r=6.94 (5.17-8.72) p<0,05), the incidence rate (r=8.50 (5.51-11.49), p<0.01) and the older
age (r=5.39 (2.63-8.16), p<0,01.). The elderly inhabitants of Japan had a higher self-assessment for
physical health in the age ranges 65-74 and over 85 years old (p<0.05), and a higher selfassessment
of mental health at the age of 75-84 years old. Sixty-eight elderly Japanese and 48%
Russians estimated their physical health as normal.
Conclusion:
The effect of living together, morbidity and age upon HRQoL is manifested equally
strongly both among the inhabitants of Japan and among the Russians. The elderly Japanese estimate
the state of physical and mental health as a whole higher than their Russian peers.
Quality of life among the elderly in suburban Hanoi, Vietnam: Needs assessment and socio-economic factors affecting the elderly care