Quality of life is associated with subsequent geriatric syndromes, healthcare utilization, and mortality: A nine-year cohort study

Purpose To examine the relationship between generic quality of life (QOL) and subsequent geriatric syndromes, healthcare utilization, and mortality using the CASP-12 (control, autonomy, self-realization, pleasure) questionnaire. Methods This retrospective cohort analysis of prospectively collected data included 699 community-dwelling older adults who were randomly selected from participants of the free senior citizens health examination in Taiwan in 2010. Follow-up assessments were conducted via face-to-face or telephone interviews until 2018. QOL was evaluated using the CASP-12 scale every two years, with higher scores indicating better QOL. Outcome measures encompassed polypharmacy, falls, frailty, disability, emergency room visits, hospitalization, and mortality. Frailty and disability were assessed biennially and the other variables, annually. The study utilized generalized estimation equation to explore the long-term impact of QOL on geriatric syndromes, healthcare utilization, and mortality. Results The mean age of the participants was 75.5 ± 6.5 years, and 49.5% were women. Higher CASP-12 score was associated with less subsequent polypharmacy (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.94 - 0.98), falls (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.94 - 0.97), frailty (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.89 - 0.93), disability (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.82 - 0.88), emergency room visits (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93 - 0.96), hospitalization (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.93 - 0.96), and mortality (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.70 - 0.77). Conclusions Better QOL in the older adults may have beneficial effects on long-term geriatric syndromes, healthcare utilization, and mortality.