Observation revealed by a study published in the journal Journal of Gerontology, Medical Sciences.
This study was conducted in conjunction with researchers from Portland State University, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Oregon University of Health and Science, and Statistics Canada.
The research team analyzed data gathered from a study on the quality of life of 2,432 older Canadians. Over a ten-year period (1994-2004), participants completed a health survey every two years. For this Health Utilities Index study, they scored their abilities in eight categories, namely: sight, hearing, speech, walking, touch, emotion, cognition, and pain.
Participants who rated moderate or severe impairment did not have “excellent health” or “high quality of life.” At the start of the study, 50.8% of the participants were in excellent health, but after ten years only 8% had maintained their health, and 47% did not have a high quality of life or excellent health.
