[Overall quality of life in persons with dementia]

To assess overall quality of life (QoL) among persons with dementia and to investigate variables associated with subjective perception of QoL.

This was a cross-sectional study in six health and social care centres in Barcelona and Tarragona. Ninety nine persons with mild-moderate dementia, living at home with a known caregiver completed a face-to-face interview including sociodemographic information; health perception, a list of chronic medical conditions, depressive symptoms and activities of daily living. Overall QoL was measured with the single item of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF.

40.6% assessed their overall QoL as very good/good. Univariate logistic regression analyses showed a lack of association between QoL with sociodemographic information, severity of dementia and functioning, but significant association between QoL with depressive symptoms, satisfaction with relationships, enjoying life and meaning in life. Ordinal and binary multivariate regression analysis showed that better perception of health and greater satisfaction with personal relationships was associated with better QoL. In addition, fewer depressive symptoms in the ordinal multivariate regression analysis and dementia severity and enjoy life in the binary regression analysis appeared significant.

Persons with mild-moderate dementia can inform about their overall QoL and subjective states. In addition to health status, other dimensions, as personal relationships and positive aspects should be systematically assessed in this population.