Socioeconomic characteristics and quality of life of urban and rural elderly people with heart disease

Abstract

Objective: To compare the socioeconomic variables and quality of life scores (QOL) of elderly residents with heart diseases in urban and rural areas.Method: household survey with 829 urban and 220 rural elderlies. The data were collected using: Brazilian Questionnaire for Functional and Multidimensional Assessment, WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD. The collection in the urban area was from June to December of 2008 and, in the rural area, from June 2010 to March 2011. Chi-square, t-student and multiple linear regression (p <0.05) tests were used.Results: The proportion of women and elderlies with 75 years of age and over was higher in urban areas. Lower scores among urban elderlies physical and social relations were observed, and; facets autonomy, past, present and future activities and intimacy; for the rural elderlies, the environment, sensory abilities, death and dying.Conclusion: the urban elderlies showed a lower QOL score in most areas and facets compared to rural elderlies.