Hua You
School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, China
Title: Association between Body Mass Index and Health-related Quality of Life among Chinese elderly——a cross-sectional study in Jiangsu
Biography
Biography: Hua You
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the association between weight status and health related quality of life (HRQoL) among elderly in Jiangsu, China.
Methods: A total of 10,257 elderly (≥60 years) of a cross-sectional community-based study were included. BMI was calculated based on self-reported height and weight, and divided into three categories: “underweight” (<18.5), “normal weight” (18.5-24.9), “overweight” (25.0-29.9) and “obese” (≥30.0). HRQoL was measured via the Eq-5d-3L. Demographic information and subjects’ behaviors were also collected. Chi-square tests and One-way ANOVA analyses were used to compare the frequencies and scores of Eq-5d responses among different BMI groups. Also, Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between BMI categories and below Chinese elderly norm of Eq-5d scores.
Results: The subjects’ mean age was 69.57 years (SD=7.5). Among them, the proportion of “normal weight”, “underweight”, “overweight” and “obese” was 66.0%, 8.3%, 23.1%, 2.6%, respectively. The score of Eq-5d index among total participants was 0.8036 and the VAS was 75.47. Either for responses frequency or scores of Eq-5d-3L, there were significant differences among different BMI groups (P<0.001). After controlled both demographic characteristics and health related behaviors, the two abnormal BMI groups (under weight and overweight/obese) still more likely had Eq-5d index and VAS below the Chinese elderly norm, the adjusted OR(95%CI) was 1.57(1.31,1.87), 1.36(1.21,1.54), 1.53(1.29,1.83) and 1.14(1.03,1.27), respectively.
Conclusion: As well as excess weight, underweight should be paid attention to, since these two weight situations both significantly associated with a low quality of life in the Chinese elderly.
Key Words: Body Mass Index; Quality of life; elderly