The influence of lower-extremity function in elderly individuals' quality of life (QOL): An analysis of the correlation between SPPB and EQ-5D

Background: If an association between a decline in physical performance and subjective QOL is confirmed, the SPPB could be used as a predictor for declining QOL in older people. Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the association between the short physical performance battery (SPPB) and QOL (EQ-5D) to determine the utility of the SPPB as a predictor of declining QOL. Methods: The SPPB and the EQ-5D test were performed with a random sample of participants nested in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) panel. Comparisons of the adjusted mean scores on the EQ-5D index between normal and abnormal SPPB groups were performed. We selected the quartiles of the EQ-5D index variables for the analysis. The association between the EQ-5D index and SPPB abnormality was examined using multinomial logistic regression analysis. Additionally, the associations between gait speed and chair stand time and the EQ-5D index were examined using the same analysis. Results: Four hundred and twenty-two subjects were included in the analysis. The adjusted means for the EQ-5D index were significantly lower when the SPPB score was abnormal (p = 0.022 for men, p = 0.047 for women). An abnormal SPPB score was significantly associated with the lowest quartile of EQ-5D index score (adjusted OR 3.54 in the lowest quartile for men; adjusted OR 2.50 and 3.37 in the lowest and second quartiles for women). Gait speed was significantly associated with the EQ-5D index for participants of both sexes, but standup time was associated with the EQ-5D index only for men. Conclusions: An abnormal SPPB score was associated with lower QOL. Thus, the SPPB has the potential to be used as an early predictor of declining QOL in clinical settings and epidemiological studies. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.