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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Review

Health-related quality of life among healthy elderly Iranians: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature

Authors: Sogand Tourani, Masoud Behzadifar, Mariano Martini, Aidin Aryankhesal, Masood Taheri Mirghaed, Morteza Salemi, Meysam Behzadifar, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measurement in elderly people can provide appropriate information for an optimal management of physical/mental conditions. The main objective of the present study was to quantitatively assess the HRQoL among healthy elder Iranian individuals as measured by the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire, both overall and at the level of each its single component/domain.

Methods

This study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis, following the "Preferred Reporting Results of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA) guidelines. Embase, PubMed/MEDLINE, ISI/Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and Iranian databases such as MagIran, SID and Irandoc were mined from inception up to 1st September 2017. Also the grey literature (via Google Scholar) was mined. Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts, assessed full-text articles, extracted data, and appraised their quality using the "Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology" (STROBE) checklist.

Results

Twenty five studies were included. Mean overall HRQoL was 54.92 [95%CI 51.50–58.33], lower than the value found by studies done in other countries, especially in those economically developed. The sensitivity analysis indicated stability and reliability of results. Pooled scores of each HRQoL domain/sub-scale of the SF-36 questionnaire ranged from 49.77 (physical role functioning) to 63.02 (social role functioning).

Conclusions

HRQoL among healthy elder Iranian individuals is generally low. Health policy-makers should put HRQoL among the elderly as a priority of their agenda, implementing ad hoc programs and providing social, economic and psychological support, as well as increasing the participation of old people in the community life and use their experiences.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Health-related quality of life among healthy elderly Iranians: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature
Authors
Sogand Tourani
Masoud Behzadifar
Mariano Martini
Aidin Aryankhesal
Masood Taheri Mirghaed
Morteza Salemi
Meysam Behzadifar
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-018-0845-7

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