Quality of life and influencing factors among older adults in the end of COVID-19 era: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all age groups, with older individuals experiencing health effects and lifestyle changes. This study explored factors associated with quality of life (QoL) among older adults and examined how a history of COVID-19 infection and quarantine varied across these factors in the post-pandemic period.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among older adults attending a primary care clinic between November 2023 and January 2024. Sociodemographic data and information on patients' history of COVID-19 infection and quarantine were collected. The WHOQOL-BREF-THAI was used to assess QoL. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with a history of COVID-19 and QoL.

Results: The study received 195 survey responses. Most participants had moderate to poor QoL, were female (69.74%), and had a mean age of 67.07 years (SD = ±5.69). Marital and living status were associated with individual's COVID-19 infection history, with living with family linked to higher infection risk. The presence of underlying disease and social media use were significantly associated with quarantine history. QoL was associated with education, income, and physical and social activities, but not with COVID-19 history.

Conclusions: Household health precautions should be emphasized. Chronic conditions and social media use were linked to quarantine, possibly due to challenges in maintaining in-person contact. Enhancing social and physical activities may improve QoL among older adults. These findings provide valuable insights for healthcare providers and policymakers to better support older adults in future health crises, including promoting social and physical engagement and addressing sociodemographic factors.