Quality of Life and its Associated Factors Among the Elderly Community Dwellers in Rural Bihar – A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study from Eastern India

Background: Aging, longevity, advanced health care, and demographic transition have altered the quality of life (QOL) among the elderly. This study was planned to assess the QOL among the elderly and the associated factors in rural Bihar. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study among 395 elderlies residing in rural Bihar adopted a multistage sampling technique and a standard WHO-QOL BREF tool to assess the QOL. A multivariable linear regression analysis was performed and an adjusted beta-coefficient was reported to determine the factors determining the QOL. Results: A total of 33 [8.4% (95% CI: 6-11.5%)] out of 395 elderlies had poor QOL. Age [adjusted B= -0.19 (-0.3 to -0.07)], Females [adjusted B= -1.89 (-3.5 to -0.25)], No. of drugs consumed [adjusted B=1.7 (0.4 to 2.99)], presence of any of the comorbidity [adjusted B=-5.9 (-10.8 to -1.1)], presence of Polymorbidity [adjusted B=-3.5 (-6.6 to -0.4)] were found to be independent correlates of QOL scores among elderly. Conclusion: Almost one in ten elderlies had poor QOL. The physical domain of QOL was affected the most among all the domains. Increasing age, female gender, presence of any co-morbidity, presence of poly-morbidity, and more drug consumption were associated with decreasing QOL scores among the elderly.