Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2025

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
Altitude and Quality of Life of Older People in Colombia: A Multilevel Study
Angela Maria Pinzón-Rondón1, Juan Carlos Botero2, Luis Eduardo Mosquera-Gómez1
1469468Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
Objective:
To assess the association between municipality altitude and quality of life (QOL) of older people in Colombia.
Methods:
Cross-sectional study with data from the Colombian Demographic and Health Survey Older Adult Questionnaire 2015 (N = 13,970). QOL was measured in six domains: physical health, psychological health, functional status, social relations, medical history and economic status. Regression analyses were carried out adjusting by individual and contextual level variables.
Results:
Low altitude was associated with better QOL: physical health (OR = 1.92, 95%CI 1.47-2.52), psychological health (OR = 1.59, 95%CI 1.26-2.00), functional status (OR=1.80, 95%CI 1.45-2.23), social relations (OR = 2.16 95%CI 1.73-2.70), and medical history (OR = 1.57, 95%CI 1.37-1.81). Economic status was not associated with altitude.
Discussion:
Living at high altitude was associated with lower QOL for Colombian older adults. This finding encourages further study of high altitude and health outcomes among older adults in Colombia and other countries with populations living at high altitudes.
Related Concept Videos
Longitudinal Studies
Longitudinal Research
Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Cross-Sectional Research

