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Predictors of health-related quality of life in people with a complex chronic disease including multimorbidity: a longitudinal cohort study

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Abstract

Purpose

Factors that predict the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with complex chronic diseases have not been investigated to date. Determining the impact of disease on daily activities is a factor that is particularly important with this group of people. This study examined the influence of a range of predictors (including the impact of chronic diseases on daily activities), on HRQoL in patients with complex chronic diseases over a 12-month period.

Method

A longitudinal cohort study was conducted with outcomes measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months post-baseline. Adults attending an Australian community-based rehabilitation service were included. HRQoL was measured using the SF-36 and corresponding preference-based health utility. Predictor variables included sociodemographic factors, disease factors (e.g. impact of diseases on daily activities), intervention factors, psychosocial factors and HRQoL components that were not included as the dependent variable. Linear mixed-effects regression was used to examine the relationship between predictor variables and HRQoL.

Results

Data from 351 participants were included. The impact of chronic disease on daily activities was the most frequent significant predictor of HRQoL outcomes. Other significant predictors included the impact of chronic back pain or sciatica on daily activities, the number of comorbidities, general health functioning and psychological distress.

Conclusion

Models of health care for people with complex chronic disease may be enhanced by greater focus on patients’ daily activities during assessment and intervention delivery. The range of significant predictors highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary team for managing complex chronic disease or targeted intervention strategies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Lynette Mackey de Paiva and Christine Woods who assisted in the collection and collation of data and the clinic staff who assisted with coordination of the study and Rod Boddice who provided support throughout the project.

Funding

This study was funded by the Queensland Government, Health Practitioner Research Scheme, and the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia

    Zephanie Tyack & Kerrie-anne Frakes

  2. Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia

    Zephanie Tyack, Adrian Barnett & Steven McPhail

  3. Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Health, Buranda, QLD, Australia

    Zephanie Tyack & Steven McPhail

  4. Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, Australia

    Petrea Cornwell

  5. The Prince Charles Hospital, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Chermside, QLD, Australia

    Petrea Cornwell & Suzanne Kuys

  6. School of Physiotherapy, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, QLD, Australia

    Suzanne Kuys

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  1. Zephanie Tyack
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  2. Kerrie-anne Frakes
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  3. Adrian Barnett
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  4. Petrea Cornwell
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  5. Suzanne Kuys
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  6. Steven McPhail
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zephanie Tyack.

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Conflict of interest

At the commencement of the study, KA was the manager of the clinic at which the study was conducted and ZT was a research fellow in the health service where the clinic was located.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Tyack, Z., Frakes, Ka., Barnett, A. et al. Predictors of health-related quality of life in people with a complex chronic disease including multimorbidity: a longitudinal cohort study. Qual Life Res 25, 2579–2592 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-016-1282-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-016-1282-x

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