The Effect of Obesity, Hypertension and Diabetes on Health-related Quality of Life among the Elderly in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province
Othman Al Mulhim
Department of Surgery, Collage of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Salman Abdulrahman Alhumud *
Medical Intern, Collage of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study explores the cumulative effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) among the elderly.
Study Design: Our study comprises a cross-sectional design.
Place and Duration of Study: The Nov 2021 population-based research represents the Saudi Eastern Province population aged 60 years and above.
Methodology: Information was collected through home-based personal interviews using a structured questionnaire on the participants' health. The participants provided informed verbal consent. On each scale of the SF-36 questionnaire, multiple linear regression examined the relationships between obesity, hypertension, diabetes and HRQL after adjusting for sociodemographic data and lifestyle factors.
Results: Diabetes and hypertension registered the worst HRQL among males on all the scales (‒53.8 to ‒22.0 points according to the scale) in the two-factor cluster and male clusters except social functioning and role-emotional. Obesity and diabetes registered the worst HRQL on all the scales (–24.4 to –40.4 points according to the scale) in the two-factor female cluster except physical functioning, bodily pain and general health, and on all scales in female clusters except physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, social functioning and role-emotional.
Conclusion: Our study shows that obesity, hypertension and diabetes (as separate factors and in combination) negatively affect HRQL.
Keywords: Cardiovascular risk factors, elderly, quality of life, gender, Saudi Arabia