Time Trend of Health Related Quality of Life in Taiwan from 2001 to 2013

Introduction:

Following the economic growth and the advances of medicine, life expectancy increases. However, whether the health related quality of life (HRQOL) follows the pattern is not clear. This study aims to examine the time trend of HRQOL and the associated factors.

Method:

Data for this study came from the 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS). Altogether, 60960 participants aged between 12 and 65 were included. HRQOL was assessed by the Short Form 36 (SF-36). The 36 items were further summarized into physical components score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS). Covariates were age, sex, education level, family income, and degree of urbanization. SAS and SUDAAN10.0 (SAS-Callable) were used to carry out weighed estimation and statistical inference.

Results:

PCS increased over time in both males and females. In MCS, males and females showed much clear increasing time trend. After adjusting for other demographic characteristics, there was a increasing time trend in PCS, males were higher than females, the youngest age group, higher education level, and family income had higher PCS. Similar trend was found in MCS, except for age and education level. The MCS was worse in people aged 19-24, 25-44, then bounced back after 45 years old. Those with higher education had lower MCS. Despise the increasing time trend in PCS and MCS, those with low family income always had the lowest HRQOL.

Discussion:

Even though HRQOL increased over time, the increasing patterns were different among demographic characteristics. Attention should be given to the low income group.