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Socioeconomic inequality in health-related quality of life among Korean adults with chronic disease: an analysis of the Korean Community Health Survey
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Thi Huyen Trang Nguyen, Thi Tra Bui, Jinhee Lee, Kui Son Choi, Hyunsoon Cho, Jin-Kyoung Oh
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Epidemiol Health. 2024;46:e2024018. Published online January 8, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2024018
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Health-related quality of life is crucial for people dealing with chronic illness. This study investigated the quality of life in individuals with 5 common chronic conditions in Korea. We also analyzed socioeconomic factors such as education, income, occupation, and urbanization to identify determinants of inequality.
METHODS Using 2016 Korea Community Health Survey data, we examined individuals aged 30 or older with chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, arthritis) using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 3 Level tool. We analyzed the associations between socioeconomic factors (education, income, occupation, urbanization) and quality of life using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Inequality indices (relative inequality index, absolute inequality index) were used to measure inequality in quality of life.
RESULTS Individuals with higher income levels showed a 1.95-fold higher likelihood of a better quality of life than those with the lowest income. The lowest income group had higher odds of mobility (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.2), self-care (aOR, 2.1), activity limitations (aOR, 2.4), pain/discomfort (aOR, 1.8), and anxiety/depression (aOR, 2.3). Educational disparities included a 3-fold increase in mobility and daily activity problems for those with elementary or lower education. Well-educated participants had a 1.94 times higher quality of life, with smaller differences in anxiety/depression and self-management. The income gap accounted for 14.1% of variance in quality-of-life disparities.
CONCLUSIONS Addressing socioeconomic disparities in the quality of life for individuals with chronic diseases necessitates tailored interventions and targeted health policies. This research informs policymakers in developing focused initiatives to alleviate health inequities. It emphasizes the importance of mental health support and ensuring affordable, accessible healthcare services.
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Summary
Korean summary
- 지역사회건강조사 자료를 통해 확인한 한국인에게 호발하는 만성질환자(당뇨, 고혈압, 심혈관질환, 고지혈증, 관절염)에서 삶의 질 점수(EQ-5D)는 평균 0.7점으로, 남성에서 높고, 연령이 높을수록 낮다.
- 소득이 낮거나 교육수준이 낮은 군에서 삶의 질이 상대적으로 낮으며, 특히 운동능력, 자기관리, 통증/불편, 불안/우울 각각에서 두배 가량 어려움을 겪는 것으로 나타났다.
- 만성질환자에서 삶의 질은 사회경제적 여건에 따라 격차가 존재하므로, 취약한 계층 발굴과 지원이 필요하다.
Key Message
- Quality of life score (EQ-5D) in patients with chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and arthritis) that are prevalent in Koreans identified through data from community health surveys averaged 0.7, lower in women than in men, and decreased by age.
- Low-income or low-educated patients have relatively low quality of life, and they have more than twice as much problem in mobility, self-care, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.
- Disparities in quality of life in patients with chronic diseases according to socioeconomic conditions have been found, and support for the vulnerable is needed.
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Citations
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- Analysis of asthma incidence and mortality rates among children aged 0–14 in 204 countries from 1990 to 2019
Fei Cheng, Li He, Dachuan Deng, Jinhui Zhang, Cheng Liu Journal of Asthma.2024; : 1. CrossRef
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Multimorbidity patterns by health-related quality of life status in older adults: an association rules and network analysis utilizing the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
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Thi-Ngoc Tran, Sanghee Lee, Chang-Mo Oh, Hyunsoon Cho
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Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022113. Published online November 29, 2022
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022113
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7,657
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209
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Abstract
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Improved life expectancy has increased the prevalence of older adults living with multimorbidity which likely deteriorates their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, relatively little is known about patterns and the relationships of multimorbidity by HRQoL status in older adults.
METHODS Individuals aged 65 or older from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V-VII (2010-2018) were analyzed. HRQoL was assessed by the EuroQoL-5 dimensions questionnaire and categorized as poor, normal, or good. The impact of multimorbidity on HRQoL was evaluated using logistic regression. The patterns and inter-relationships between multimorbidity, stratified by HRQoL groups, were analyzed using the association rules and network analysis approach.
RESULTS Multimorbidity was significantly associated with poor HRQoL (3 or more diseases vs. none; adjusted odds ratio, 2.70; 95% confidence interval, 2.10 to 3.46). Hypertension, arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes were the most prevalent diseases across all HRQoL groups. Complex interrelationships of morbidities, higher prevalence, and node strengths in all diseases were observed in the poor HRQoL group, particularly for arthritis, depression, and stroke, compared to other groups (1.5-3.0 times higher, p<0.05 for all). Apart from hypertension, arthritis and hyperlipidemia had a higher prevalence and stronger connections with other diseases in females, whereas this was the case for diabetes and stroke in males with poor HRQoL.
CONCLUSIONS Multimorbidity patterns formed complicatedly inter-correlated disease networks in the poor HRQoL group with differences according to sex. These findings enhance the understanding of multimorbidity connections and provide information on the healthcare needs of older adults, especially those with poor HRQoL.
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Summary
Korean summary
기대 수명의 증가에 따라 고령인구에서 건강관련 삶의 질을 저하시킬 수 있는 복합질환의 유병률도 함께 증가하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 국민건강영양조사 자료를 이용하여 65세 이상 우리나라 고령인구에서 건강관련 삶의 질 (HRQoL)에 따른 복합만성질환 패턴을 분석하였다. 복합만성질환은 건강관련 삶의 질 저하와 통계적으로 유의하게 연관되어 있으며, 연관성 및 네크워크 분석 결과 건강관련 삶의 질이 낮을수록 복합질환의 패턴이 복잡한 것으로 나타났다. 전체적으로 고혈압, 관절염, 고지혈증, 당뇨병이 가장 높은 발생률을 보였다. 건강관련 삶의 질이 낮은 그룹에서는 관절염, 우울증, 뇌졸중 등의 질병이 높은 발생률과 상호관련성을 보였으며, 이는 성별에 따라 차이가 있었다. 연구 결과는 고령자, 특히 건강관련 삶의 질이 낮은 노인의 의료 서비스 요구에 대해 정보를 제공해 줄 수 있을 것이다,
Key Message
Network analysis of older adults (65 or older) in Korea showed that hypertension, arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes were the most common multimorbidity regardless of HRQoL status. However, as HRQoL deteriorated, multimorbidity patterns formed complicatedly inter-correlated disease networks; the prevalence and the node strength of arthritis, depression, and stroke increased considerably and be diversified by sex.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
- Chronic Disease Patterns and Their Relationship With Health-Related Quality of Life in South Korean Older Adults With the 2021 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: Latent Class Analysis
Mi-Sun Lee, Hooyeon Lee JMIR Public Health and Surveillance.2024; 10: e49433. CrossRef - Health-promoting behavior to enhance perceived meaning and control of life in chronic disease patients with role limitations and depressive symptoms: a network approach
Je-Yeon Yun, Young Ho Yun Scientific Reports.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
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