Factors associated with lower quality of life in Brazilian elderly people

Abstract

To investigate the relation of lower scores of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief
version (WHOQOL-BREF) and depressive symptoms, physical activity level, obesity, alcoholism, and
smoking in community-dwelling elders. This is a cross-sectional population-based study, which
included 379 community-dwelling elders from Novo Hamburgo, southern Brazil. The level of physical
activity was estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and depressive
symptoms were detected according to the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale. The relation between
the level of physical activity and depressive symptoms with WHOQOL-BREF scores was analyzed by
logistic regression. The risk of having lower scores in all four WHOQOL-BREF domains was
significantly elevated in the groups with depressive symptoms irrespective of physical activity status.
This work highlights the burden that depressive symptoms may have on the quality of life of older
adults over and above other lifestyle factors.