The associations between chronic diseases and quality of life – a Finnish population-based study

The aim of the present study was to examine the association of major chronic diseases with quality of life (QOL) in the Finnish adult population. The main research question was to assess which of the selected 11 common chronic diseases are associated with the greatest reduction in QOL. We utilized data from the cross-sectional FinHealth 2017 Study representing the adult population in Finland. Participants who were at least 25 years old with complete information on EuroHIS-8 QOL were included ( n = 5022, 50% of the original sample of this age group). Information on 11 chronic diseases causing major burden was based on data from national health registers and self-reports. The weighted mean EuroHIS-8 values based on predictive margins and their 95% confidence intervals were analysed using linear regression models. The differences between those having a chronic disease of interest vs. others were tested using the Wald test. Hypertension, chronic respiratory disorder (i.e asthma, COPD or sleep apnea) and diabetes were the most prevalent diseases in both men and women. Depression (EuroHIS-8 mean 3.32; 95% CI 3.21–3.43), Parkinson’s disease (mean 3.59; CI 3.45–3.82), and rheumatic diseases (mean 3.81; CI 3.70–3.90) were associated with the greatest reduction of QOL, when adjusted for education, marital status and selected chronic diseases. Population-based measurements of QOL add a subjective health perspective into national estimates of disease burden, pointing out the importance of depression and diseases which limit physical functioning.