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Quality of life and its correlates in octogenarians. Use of the SEIQoL-DW in Wave 5 of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921 Study (ABC1921)

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Abstract

Background

The direct-weighted Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life, Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) is an individualised measure of QoL that has been little used in very elderly people.

Methods

We administered SEIQoL-DW during Wave 5 of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921 Study (ABC1921) and sought statistical correlations with other variables in the data set. ABC1921 participants had been IQ-tested in 1932 at age 11. Since 1997, data about cognition, mental/physical function, personality, health, and socioeconomic status have been gathered in five waves of investigations.

Results

Ninety-six out of 98 individuals, mean age 82.2, completed the SEIQoL-DW. Health, family, relationships, finances and social pastimes were the commonest cues nominated, but age/gender differences existed. The mean SEIQoL-DW score (74.0) was significantly lower than in an approximately 60% sample from Wave 3, the fall being greater in men. Variables statistically associated with Wave 5 SEIQoL-DW usually reflected current rather than past status [including Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) components and depression], although there were weaker correlations with years of education, housing in childhood, conscientiousness, and IQ in 1998.

Conclusions

SEIQoL-DW proved feasible and acceptable in community-dwelling octogenarians. Recent (i.e. statelike) rather than early or long-standing (i.e. traitlike) influences appeared to have the greater effect on QoL.

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Abbreviations

ABC1921:

Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921 Study

AVLT:

Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test

BLOCK:

Block Design

CASP-19:

Control, Autonomy, Self-realisation, and Pleasure Questionnaire

DIGIT:

Digit Symbol Substitution

HADS:

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

LOT:

Life Orientation Test

MCS:

Mental Component Summary (of SF-36)

MHAQ:

Multidimensional Health Status Questionnaire

MMSE:

Mini Mental State Examination

NEO:

Neuroticism-Extroversion-Openness Personality Inventory

PCS:

Physical Component Summary (of SF-36)

QoL:

Quality of life

RAVEN:

Raven’s Progressive Matrices

SEIQoL:

Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life

SEIQoL-DW:

Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life, Direct Weighting

SF-36:

Short-Form 36 Health Survey

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Dr. Saskia Teunisse for providing training and expertise in regard to the SEIQoL-DW. Funding for Wave 5 data collection of the ABC1921 was provided by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department. Research support for earlier Waves of the ABC1921 and of individual researchers was provided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and the Alzheimer Research Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    David Gwyn Seymour, Helen C. Fox, Helen A. Lemmon, Gordon J. Prescott & Lawrence J. Whalley

  2. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    John M. Starr & Ian J. Deary

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  1. David Gwyn Seymour
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  2. John M. Starr
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  3. Helen C. Fox
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  4. Helen A. Lemmon
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  7. Lawrence J. Whalley
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Correspondence to David Gwyn Seymour.

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Seymour, D.G., Starr, J.M., Fox, H.C. et al. Quality of life and its correlates in octogenarians. Use of the SEIQoL-DW in Wave 5 of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921 Study (ABC1921). Qual Life Res 17, 11–20 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9291-4

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