Quality of life is an essential outcome parameter in geriatric research; however, research to date offers mixed evidence about the factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among people with dementia (PWDs). We aimed to identify factors relating to HRQOL among PWDs living in long-term care (LTC) facilities.

A total of 299 from 1,607 registered long-term care facilities were randomly selected in every administrative region of Taiwan. A cross-sectional two-phase survey, which included the demographic data, comorbidities, EuroQol-5 dimensions-5 levels (EQ-5D-5L), mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score, clinical dementia rating scores (CDR), behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and activities of daily living (ADL) of PWDs, was then conducted from 2019 to 2020.

A total of 1,313 PWDs who self-completed EQ-5D-5L were enrolled in this analysis with a mean age of 76.43 ± 12.7 years. The mean utility and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of EQ-5D-5L were 0.10 (standard deviation, SD = 0.48) and 66.57 (SD = 20.67), respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that higher scores in ADL, instrumental ADL, and lower CDR sum scores were associated with higher EQ-5D-5L utility scores. Higher ADL scores and higher MMSE scores were associated with higher scores in an EQ-5D-5L-VAS. More depressive symptoms were related to both lower utility score and lower EQ-5D-5L-VAS score.

Findings highlight the importance to recognize and to treat depression to maintain HRQOL of PWDs in LTC facilities. Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the long-term changes in HRQOL of PWDs.