Quality of life of older Chilean subjects living in metropolitan Santiago, Chile. Influence of socioeconomic status

Quality of life of older people is becoming an important public health concern and should be evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life of older subjects living in Metropolitan Santiago, Chile. A qualitative phase with focus groups of older subjects was carried out first. According to the conclusions of the Focus groups, a questionnaire about quality of life was devised and added to the WHOQoLOld and WhoQoL brief questionnarires. The final document with 85 questions was applied to healthy older subjects living in the community.A total of 1676 subjects aged 71.8 ± 7.4 years (1189 women), were surveyed. A multiple stepwise regression model showed that a higher socioeconomic level, a better educational level, performing voluntary work, having a partner, participating in groups with other older people and having a lower age, were factors independently associated with a higher quality of life. A principal components analysis showed that psychological health and social relationships were the main domains explaining the total quality of life score. Psychological health and social relationships were the main determinants of quality of life in this sample of Chilean older people living in Metropolitan Santiago.