Quality of Life in Patients with Dementia

Czech version

Authors: J. Lužný ^1,2
Authors‘ workplace: Ústav sociálního lékařství a zdravotní politiky LF UP v Olomouci ¹; Psychiatrická léčebna v Kroměříži ²
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2013; 76/109(1): 90-95
Category: Short Communication

Overview

Objective:
The objective was to test the effectiveness of a quality of life questionnaire (WHO-QoL-OLD) designed for patients with mild, moderate and severe dementia in routine clinical practice. The primary purpose of this questionnaire was to determine a possible correlation between quality of life and depression, autonomy and cognitive functions.

Patients and methods:
a cross-sectional study involving 235 patients hospitalized for mild or moderate dementia at the Kromeriz Mental hospital was conducted in February 2009 and June 2009. At the beginning of hospitalization, all patients were tested with the validated Czech version of the WHOQoL OLD questionnaire, 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, Barthel’s test of activities of daily living and Mini-Mental State Examination. Results were analyzed using Microsoft Excel as well as a statistical software (Statistica).

Results:
a significant indirect linear correlation was found between the total quality of life score and the depression score. Furthermore, a significant direct correlation was found between the quality of life total score and the Barthel’s test total score. A significant direct correlation was found between the total quality of life score and cognitive functions. Our results suggest that the WHOQoL-OLD questionnaire is effective and can be recommended for the purposes of researching the quality of life of patients with mild and moderate dementia.

Conclusion:
The correlation between subjectively perceived quality of life and depression, autonomy, and cognitive functioning demonstrates that the quality of life of patients with mild to moderate dementia may be positively influenced – especially by the means of good diagnostics and treatment of depression, early rehabilitation and treatment of cognitive dysfunction.

Key words:
quality of life – dementia – length of hospitalization – depression – autonomy – cognitive functions

Accepted for review:
13. 10. 2011

Accepted for print:
2. 4. 2012

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