Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Oct 8;73(11):1574-1580.
doi: 10.1093/gerona/gly062.

Midlife Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Women

Nancy E Avis  1 , Alicia Colvin  2 , Joyce T Bromberger  2   3 , Rachel Hess  4   5
Affiliations

Midlife Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Women

Nancy E Avis et al. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. .

Abstract

Background: Midlife represents an important time to evaluate health status and health behaviors that may affect health-related quality of life (HRQL) in later years. This study examines change in women's HRQL over 11 years from ages 47-59 to 57-69 and identifies midlife characteristics that predict HRQL at older ages.

Methods: Physical (PCS) and mental component summaries (MCS) of the SF-36 were used to assess HRQL from 2002 to 2013 in 2,614 women from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a multiethnic/racial cohort study. We used locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) models to obtain unadjusted predicted mean trajectories of PCS and MCS as a function of age.

Results: LOESS predicted PCS declined from 51.6 to 47.1, whereas MCS increased from 49.2 to 53.1. In multivariable models, controlling for baseline PCS, higher baseline physical activity (p = .002) and increase in physical activity from baseline (p < .0001) predicted better PCS. Time since baseline (ie, aging; p < .001), higher baseline body mass index (p < .0001), increased body mass index over time (p < .0001), smoking (p < .05), two or more medical conditions (p < .0001), sleep problems (p < .0001), and urinary incontinence (p < .0001) were related to lower PCS. Early (p = .004) and late postmenopause (p = .001; vs. premenopause) and aging (p = .05) predicted higher MCS. Predictors of lower MCS were less than very good health (p < .0001), sleep problems (p < .0001), stressful life events (p < .0001), higher perceived stress (p < .0001), and higher trait anxiety (p = .004). Race/ethnicity was related to MCS, but not PCS.

Conclusions: Several potentially modifiable midlife factors, such as improved sleep hygiene, physical activity, and body mass index, might improve HRQL for older women.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) plots of physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summaries as a function of age.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The State of Aging and Health in America 2013. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2013. https://www.cdc.gov/aging/agingdata/data-portal/state-aging-health.html.
    1. Cleary P, Wilson I, Fowler F. A theoretical framework for assessing and analyzing health-related quality of life. In: Albrecht GL, Fitzpatrick R, eds. Advances in Medical Sociology. Vol V. Quality of Life in Health Care. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press; 1994: 23–41.
    1. Kroenke CH, Kubzansky LD, Adler N, Kawachi I. Prospective change in health-related quality of life and subsequent mortality among middle-aged and older women. Am J Public Health. 2008;98:2085–2091. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.114041 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Otero-Rodríguez A, León-Muñoz LM, Balboa-Castillo T, Banegas JR, Rodríguez-Artalejo F, Guallar-Castillón P. Change in health-related quality of life as a predictor of mortality in the older adults. Qual Life Res. 2010;19:15–23. doi:10.1007/s11136-009-9561-4 - PubMed
    1. Tsai SY, Chi LY, Lee CH, Chou P. Health-related quality of life as a predictor of mortality among community-dwelling older persons. Eur J Epidemiol. 2007;22:19–26. doi:10.1007/s10654-006-9092-z - PubMed

Publication types