Predictors of Quality of Life in Patients with Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze factors affecting quality of life (QOL) among Korean dementia patients. METHODS: The subjects were consisted with 54 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type and 54 normal aged controls with age over 60. The QOLs were assessed with the Korean Version of the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease: Patient and Caregiver Report (KQOL-AD). For analyzing factors affecting QOL in dementia, the clinical data were obtained by structured interview and medical records, serum homocysteine levels were measured, and the severity of dementia (Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating, Global Deterioration Scale), functional activities (Activities of Daily Living, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) and depression (Geriatric Depression Scale) were evaluated using various rating scales. RESULTS: 1) The mean (+/-S.D.) score of KQOL-AD in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (24.30+/-5.06) was significantly (p<0.005) lower than those in normal aged controls (26.56+/-3.25). 2) The factors influencing on KQOL-AD in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type were age (p<0.01), cognitive function (p<0.01), severity of dementia (p<0.01), activities of daily living (p<0.01), depression (p<0.01) and serum homocysteine levels (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, multiple factors including problems originated from dementia itself as well as causes fundamentally related with pathophysiology of dementia might influence on the quality of life in patients with the Alzheimer's dementia.