# Prevalence of symptoms and their association to health-related quality of life among older men in Sweden – a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study finds that symptoms like pain, tiredness, depression, and anxiety are common in older Swedish men and strongly linked to lower quality of life.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into symptom prevalence and their impact on health-related quality of life in older men.

## Key findings

- Tiredness, poor well-being, and pain were the most common symptoms among older men.
- Pain, tiredness, depression, and anxiety had the strongest negative associations with physical and mental quality of life.
- Symptom screening and management are crucial for improving health outcomes in older men.

## Abstract

Symptoms can negatively impact health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in older adults, yet data on their prevalence and impact in older men are limited. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of nine core symptoms and their associations with HrQoL in older men.

A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted among 907 men aged 73 years in Sweden. Participants rated nine symptoms on a 0–10 scale: pain, tiredness, sleepiness, nausea, loss of appetite, depression, anxiety, shortness of breath, and overall well-being. Symptoms were considered present if scored ≥ 1. HrQoL was measured using the physical and mental component scores of the Short-Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12v2). Associations were analyzed using linear regression adjusted for confounders.

Among participants, 16% reported respiratory diseases and 35% cardiovascular diseases. The most common symptoms were tiredness (78%), poor well-being (77%), and pain (73%). Depression and anxiety were reported by 46% and 32%, respectively. The strongest associations between symptoms and physical HrQoL were (beta coefficient; 95% confidence interval): pain (-2.05; -2.25 to -2.24), tiredness (-1.98; -2.22 to -1.74), and shortness of breath (-1.73; -1.97 to -1.49) and for mental HrQOL: depression (-3.50; -3.74 to -3.27), anxiety (-3.40; -3.70 to -3.11), drowsiness (-2.35; -2,64 to -2.07), and tiredness (-2.30; -2.56 to -2.03).

Symptoms are highly prevalent among older men and significantly associated with lower HrQoL and pain, tiredness, depression, and anxiety were the most impactful. These findings underscore the importance of targeted symptom screening and management to promote healthy aging and well-being.