Quality of life and its correlates in octogenarians. Use of the SEIQoL-DW in Wave 5 of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921 Study (ABC1921).

Background: The direct-weighted Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life, Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) is an individualised measure of QoL that has been little used in very elderly people.

Methods: We administered SEIQoL-DW during Wave 5 of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921 Study (ABC1921) and sought statistical correlations with other variables in the data set. ABC1921 participants had been IQ-tested in 1932 at age 11. Since 1997, data about cognition, mental/physical function, personality, health, and socioeconomic status have been gathered in five waves of investigations.

Results: Ninety-six out of 98 individuals, mean age 82.2, completed the SEIQoL-DW. Health, family, relationships, finances and social pastimes were the commonest cues nominated, but age/gender differences existed. The mean SEIQoL-DW score (74.0) was significantly lower than in an approximately 60% sample from Wave 3, the fall being greater in men. Variables statistically associated with Wave 5 SEIQoL-DW usually reflected current rather than past status [including Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) components and depression], although there were weaker correlations with years of education, housing in childhood, conscientiousness, and IQ in 1998.

Conclusions: SEIQoL-DW proved feasible and acceptable in community-dwelling octogenarians. Recent (i.e. statelike) rather than early or long-standing (i.e. traitlike) influences appeared to have the greater effect on QoL.