Health-Related Quality of Life in a Low-Socioeconomic Status Public Rental-Flat Population in Singapore

Liang En Wee (), Peter Daniel, Aline Sim, Rui Lee, Sook Muay Tay, Nan Luo and Gerald Choon-Huat Koh
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Liang En Wee: Singapore General Hospital
Peter Daniel: National University of Singapore
Aline Sim: National University of Singapore
Rui Lee: National University of Singapore
Sook Muay Tay: Singapore General Hospital
Nan Luo: National University of Singapore
Gerald Choon-Huat Koh: National University of Singapore

Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2018, vol. 13, issue 1, No 10, 179-195

Abstract: Abstract Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a well-established measure of health and general well-being. Socioeconomic status (SES) can affect HRQoL. We sought to determine whether there were differences in HRQoL between low versus higher area-SES flat communities in Singapore. Residents in two integrated public housing precincts comprising of rental-flat blocks (low area-SES neighborhood) and neighboring owner-occupied blocks (higher area-SES neighborhood) were asked to rate their self-perceived HRQoL using the EuroQol Group five dimensions (EQ-5D) instrument. The EQ-5D assesses HRQoL in five domains (mobility, self-care, usual activities, anxiety/mood and pain) and with a global visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). We evaluated differences in HRQoL between the rental and owner-occupied neighborhoods, and factors associated with anxiety/depression in the rental-flat neighborhood using multivariate logistic regression. The participation rate was 89.1% (634/711). In the owner-occupied neighborhood, 56.7% (216/381) were in full health, compared with 54.2% (137/253) in the rental-flat population (OR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.66–1.24, p = 0.568). Across the five domains, staying in a rental-flat neighborhood was independently associated with anxiety/depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.79, 95%CI = 1.10–2.92, p = 0.019). In the rental-flat population, having anxiety/depression was independently associated with minority ethnicity, problems with self –care, pain/discomfort, difficulty with healthcare costs, and not being on subsidized primary care (p

Keywords: Health-related quality of life; Low income; Socioeconomic status; Anxiety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1007/s11482-017-9519-6

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