Assessing Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) And Activity of Daily Living (ADL) in the Elderly Population of Urban Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Background: Improving the quality of life for India's increasing senior population is a pressing public health issue. The proportion of seniors has risen from 5.6% in 1961 to 8.6% in 2011 and is projected to reach 12.5% by 2030, escalating further to 20% by 2050. The study aimed to explore how functional status relates to various HRQOL dimensions among urban elderly in Chengalpattu. Methodology: This cross-sectional study includes 260 elderly participants from Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India. The Short Form 36 (SF-36) assessed six domains of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), while the Barthel Activities of Daily Living (ADL) tool evaluated functional status. Results: Primary education stands out as the most common educational background at 49.2%, the majority of females at 55.4%. Daily living participants' activities fall into three categories: independent (n = 134; 51.5%), partially dependent (n = 111; 42.7%), and dependent (n = 15; 5.9%). The ADL and HRQOL ratings showed strong relationships Conclusion: The study underscores how declining ADL adversely affects multiple HRQOL aspects in the elderly, emphasizing the imperative of preserving functional health to enhance seniors' quality of life in India. Targeted interventions to maintain their independence and overall well-being are crucial amid the growing elderly population.

Keywords

• Elderly
• Health related quality of life
• Activity of daily living