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Health-related quality of life among adults with serious psychological distress and chronic medical conditions

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Abstract

Objective

Determine the prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD) among adults with and without chronic medical conditions and examine the association between SPD and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods

Cross-sectional data from the 2005 Los Angeles County Health Survey were used to estimate prevalence of SPD. The association between SPD and HRQOL was evaluated using logistic regression and analysis of covariance, adjusting for sociodemographic variables and number of chronic conditions.

Results

SPD was significantly associated with younger age, lower income, being unemployed or disabled, being unmarried, fair or poor health, and having one or more chronic conditions. Adults with three or more chronic conditions were six times as likely to have SPD as those with no conditions. Adults with SPD reported significantly more unhealthy days (mental and physical) and activity limitation days than adults without SPD. The adjusted mean number of unhealthy days was highest among adults with SPD (23.3), followed by adults with depression (14.1), and diabetes (10.6).

Conclusions

SPD is associated with decreased HRQOL and presence of chronic medical conditions. Mental health should be routinely assessed when addressing health needs of individuals and communities. Persons with chronic diseases may benefit from targeted mental health screening and programs that employ treatment approaches that jointly manage physical and mental health and provide improved links and access to services.

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Abbreviations

ANCOVA:

Analysis of covariance

BMI:

Body mass index

HRQOL:

Health-related quality of life

K6:

Kessler 6

CI:

Confidence interval

OR:

Odds ratio

SE:

Standard error

SPD:

Serious psychological distress

ALD:

Activity limitation days

MUD:

Mentally unhealthy days

PUD:

Physically unhealthy days

LACHS:

Los Angeles County Health Survey

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 313 N. Figueroa St, Rm 127, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, USA

    Margaret Shih

  2. School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA

    Paul A. Simon

  3. Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 3530 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA, 90010, USA

    Paul A. Simon

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  1. Margaret Shih
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Correspondence to Margaret Shih.

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Shih, M., Simon, P.A. Health-related quality of life among adults with serious psychological distress and chronic medical conditions. Qual Life Res 17, 521–528 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9330-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9330-9

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