Quality of life among people with different chronic diseases – A Finnish population-based study

BACKGROUND: In Finland, the associations between different chronic diseases and quality of life have not been comprehensively studied since the early 2000s. Updated information is needed. The aim of this study was to assess how much different common chronic diseases impair quality of life in the adult population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on the FinHealth 2017 Study (sample n = 10 000) representing the Finnish adult population. The study population comprised 5208 individuals (PR 52%; aged 25+) whose quality of life (QOL) was measured using the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index (EUROHIS-8). The overall EUROHIS-8 score was calculated by summing the scores on the eight items, with higher scores indicating better QOL. The mean value (ranging 1 to 5) of EUROHIS-8 was used. A total of 14 common chronic diseases including both psychiatric and somatic diseases were determined from the national health registers. Weighted mean values based on predictive margins were analyzed using linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, and other chronic diseases, taking into account the sampling design and non-response. RESULTS: Most of the chronic diseases studied impaired the quality of life. The lowest EUROHIS-8 mean scores were observed in individuals with depression (3.35; 95% CI 3.24, 3.46) compared to those without (4.01; 95% CI 3.99, 4.03) followed by Parkinson's disease (3.64; 3.45, 3.82 vs. 3.98; 3.96, 4.00), severe psychological disorders (3.75; 3.60, 3.89 vs. 3.98; 3.96, 4.00), rheumatoid arthritis (3.79; 3.69, 3.89 vs. 3.98; 3.96, 4.00), stroke (3.82; 3.66, 3.97 vs. 3.98; 3.96, 4.00), heart failure (3.84; 3.74, 3.94 vs. 3.98; 3.96, 4.00) and diabetes (3.84; 3.78, 3.91 vs. 3.99; 3.97, 4.01). CONCLUSIONS: In the Finnish adult population, quality of life is impaired especially in those with mental disorders and in those having chronic diseases which limit physical functioning. Promoting the prevention of common chronic diseases is essential. KEY MESSAGES: • In social and health care, it is important to identify those people who are at the greatest risk to impaired quality of life and support their mental and physical functioning. • Health promotion actions to improve the prevention of chronic diseases are essential to promote quality of life and reduce human suffering at the population level.