ABSTRACT
AIM: To describe self-perceived health status and quality of life in noninstitutionalized persons older than 65 years in two health care districts in Madrid (central Spain). DESIGN: Descriptive study based on home interviews by investigators trained in the administration of the questionnaires. SETTING: Health care districts 2 and 4 in Madrid; community level. PARTICIPANTS: Of a sample of 2002 persons older than 65 years residing in private homes, we obtained 911 valid questionnaires. MAIN MEASURES: Description and stratification by age group and sex, for sociodemographic variables, economic resources, social and familial support, physical and mental health, functional capacity and results on the EuroQol and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) questionnaires. RESULTS: Mean age, 74.7 years (95% CI, 74.3%75.1%); women, 59.7% (95% CI, 56.4%-62.9%); no formal education, 41% (95% CI, 37.7%-44.2%); social classes I and II, 38.3% (95% CI, 35.1%-41.6%). Self-perceived health status good or very good, 52.1% (95% CI, 48.8%-55.4%), 57.5% (95% CI, 52.2%-62.6%) in men and 48.4% (95% CI, 44.2%-52.7%) in women. Mean scores on the NHP were: energy, 21.1 (95% CI, 18.9%23.2%); pain, 25.6 (95% CI, 23.6%27.6%); physical mobility, 28 (95% CI, 26.4%29.7%); sleep, 31.8 (95% CI, 29.4%34.1%); emotional reaction, 24.5 (95% CI, 22.8%26.3%); social isolation, 10.9 (95% CI, 9.6%12.1%). The percentages of persons with problems according to the EuroQol instrument were: mobility, 21.3% (95% CI, 18.7%-24.1%); self-care, 7.7% (95% CI, 6.1%-9.7%); usual activities, 19.9% (95% CI, 17.4%-22.7%); pain/discomfort, 38.2% (95% CI, 35%-41.4%); anxiety/depression, 27% (95% CI, 24.1%-30%). Both the NHP and the EuroQol instrument identified more problems in women than in men, and in persons older than 80 years compared to persons younger than 80 years. CONCLUSIONS: Women had a worse perceived health status and quality of life than men. Persons older than 80 years scored worse on the NHP and the EuroQol, but did not perceive their health status to be worse.
Subject(s)
Geriatric Assessment/methods , Health Status , Quality of Life , Activities of Daily Living , Aged , Female , Geriatric Assessment/statistics & numerical data , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Primary Health Care , Socioeconomic Factors , Spain/epidemiology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Objetivo. Describir el estado de salud autopercibido y la calidad de vida en los mayores de 65 años no institucionalizados residentes en dos áreas sanitarias de Madrid. Diseño. Estudio descriptivo mediante encuesta administrada a domicilio por entrevistadores. Emplazamiento. Áreas sanitarias 2 y 4 de Madrid, nivel comunitario. Participantes. De una muestra de 2.002 personas mayores de 65 años residentes en domicilios particulares se obtuvieron 911 encuestas válidas. Mediciones principales. Descripción, estratificando por grupo de edad y sexo, de variables sociodemográficas, recursos económicos, apoyo sociofamiliar, salud física y mental, capacidad funcional y cuestionarios Euroqol y Perfil de Salud de Nottingham (PSN).Resultados. Edad media, 74,7 años (IC del 95 por ciento, 74,3-75,1 por ciento); mujeres, 59,7 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 56,4-62,9 por ciento); sin estudios, 41 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 37,7-44,2 por ciento); clases sociales I y II, 38,3 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 35,1-41,6 por ciento). Percibían su estado de salud como bueno o muy bueno, 52,1 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 48,8-55,4 por ciento), 57,5 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 52,2-62,6 por ciento) de varones y 48,4 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 44,2-52,7 por ciento) de mujeres. Las puntuaciones medias en el PSN fueron, energía = 21,1 (IC del 95 por ciento, 18,9-23,2 por ciento); dolor = 25,6 (IC del 95 por ciento, 23,6-27,6 por ciento); movilidad física = 28 (IC del 95 por ciento, 26,429,7 por ciento); sueño = 31,8 (IC del 95 por ciento, 29,434,1 por ciento); reacción emocional = 24,5 (IC del 95 por ciento, 22,8-26,3 por ciento); aislamiento social = 10,9 (IC del 95 por ciento, 9,6-12,1 por ciento). Los porcentajes de personas con problemas en el Euroqol fueron, movilidad, 21,3 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 18,724,1 por ciento); cuidado personal, 7,7 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 6,1-9,7 por ciento); actividades cotidianas, 19,9 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 17,4-22,7 por ciento); dolor/malestar, 38,2 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 35-41,4 por ciento); ansiedad/depresión, 27 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 24,1-30 por ciento). Tanto en el PSN como en el Euroqol las mujeres presentaron más problemas que los varones, y los mayores de 80 años que los menores. Conclusiones. Las mujeres muestran una percepción peor de su estado de salud y su calidad de vida que los varones. Los mayores de 80 años tienen peores puntuaciones en el PSN y en el Euroqol, pero no perciben su estado de salud como peor (AU)
Subject(s)
Aged , Male , Female , Humans , Quality of Life , Health Status , Spain , Socioeconomic Factors , Geriatric Assessment , Surveys and Questionnaires , Primary Health Care , Activities of Daily Living , Health SurveysABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To discover what use adolescents make of the medical services in a Health Area and why they attend. DESIGN: A descriptive epidemiological study of a crossover type. SETTING: Santa Maria de Benquerencia Health Centre, Toledo. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Between July 1992 and June 1993, 717 clinical records selected by means of systematic sampling out of 2127 records of 14 to 18 year old adolescents were examined. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Frequency of attendance was 2.15 per adolescent per year, with a standard error of 0.096. Significantly less males than females attended (p < 0.05). 66.53% attended at least once a year. The CIPSAP-2 groups most commonly found were: Respiratory System diseases (433 attendances), Supplementary Classification (231) and Dermatological diseases (177). We found a significantly higher attendance (p < 0.05) in males in the groups for Endocrino-metabolic illnesses and injuries/side-effects, and in females (p < 0.05) in illnesses of the Locomotive System. The commonest individual reasons for attendance were: Respiratory Infection of the upper passages, Prescriptions/Forms/Letters, Tonsillitis and Acne. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents use the health services less than the rest of the population. Out of the pathologies giving rise to their attendance, the problems arising from the physiological changes and physical activity inherent to this age-group have great specific weight. However such important problems as those arising from so-called "life-style risks" do not appear to be common causes of adolescents seeking health care. We conclude with the need to devote greater and better Primary Health Care to this age-group in order to tackle this situation.
