Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Life satisfaction (LS) and symptoms among the oldest-old: Results from the longitudinal population study called Good Aging in Skåne (GÅS).

Enkvist, Åsa LU ; Ekström, Henrik LU and Elmståhl, Sölve LU (2012) In Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 54. p.146-150
Abstract
Studies on the prevalence of symptoms in the general population and its' relation to LS in the oldest-old are to our knowledge non-existent. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency and experienced severity of elderly subjects' reported symptoms and how symptoms are related to LS. The study population consisted of 681 individuals aged 78-93 years, drawn from the longitudinal population study, GÅS, part of a national survey (SNAC). Scores on the life satisfaction index were related to scores on a modified version of the Göteborg Quality of Life (GQoL) instrument, covering 32 common symptoms. Musculo-skeletal symptoms like pain were reported by 74%, 80% had depressive symptoms and 68% general fatigue. Less than 6% of men and women... (More)
Studies on the prevalence of symptoms in the general population and its' relation to LS in the oldest-old are to our knowledge non-existent. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency and experienced severity of elderly subjects' reported symptoms and how symptoms are related to LS. The study population consisted of 681 individuals aged 78-93 years, drawn from the longitudinal population study, GÅS, part of a national survey (SNAC). Scores on the life satisfaction index were related to scores on a modified version of the Göteborg Quality of Life (GQoL) instrument, covering 32 common symptoms. Musculo-skeletal symptoms like pain were reported by 74%, 80% had depressive symptoms and 68% general fatigue. Less than 6% of men and women reported no metabolic symptoms or symptoms related to the head. In a multiple regression model it was shown that four groups of symptoms could significantly predict LS 3 years later: depression, tension, GI-symptoms and musculo-skeletal symptoms. The clinical implication of this study is that careful attention should be paid to the elderly patients' complaints concerning symptoms in the above areas since this has the potential to significantly increase the patients' satisfaction with life. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
volume
54
pages
146 - 150
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000296542200027
  • pmid:21632126
  • scopus:80054927960
  • pmid:21632126
ISSN
1872-6976
DOI
10.1016/j.archger.2011.05.001
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a16916bb-3bb4-411b-8272-61cc3bca3932 (old id 2008585)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21632126?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:27:02
date last changed
2022-03-31 02:50:16
@article{a16916bb-3bb4-411b-8272-61cc3bca3932,
  abstract     = {{Studies on the prevalence of symptoms in the general population and its' relation to LS in the oldest-old are to our knowledge non-existent. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency and experienced severity of elderly subjects' reported symptoms and how symptoms are related to LS. The study population consisted of 681 individuals aged 78-93 years, drawn from the longitudinal population study, GÅS, part of a national survey (SNAC). Scores on the life satisfaction index were related to scores on a modified version of the Göteborg Quality of Life (GQoL) instrument, covering 32 common symptoms. Musculo-skeletal symptoms like pain were reported by 74%, 80% had depressive symptoms and 68% general fatigue. Less than 6% of men and women reported no metabolic symptoms or symptoms related to the head. In a multiple regression model it was shown that four groups of symptoms could significantly predict LS 3 years later: depression, tension, GI-symptoms and musculo-skeletal symptoms. The clinical implication of this study is that careful attention should be paid to the elderly patients' complaints concerning symptoms in the above areas since this has the potential to significantly increase the patients' satisfaction with life.}},
  author       = {{Enkvist, Åsa and Ekström, Henrik and Elmståhl, Sölve}},
  issn         = {{1872-6976}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{146--150}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics}},
  title        = {{Life satisfaction (LS) and symptoms among the oldest-old: Results from the longitudinal population study called Good Aging in Skåne (GÅS).}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2011.05.001}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.archger.2011.05.001}},
  volume       = {{54}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}