Comorbidity and quality of life in obesity–a comparative study with the general population in Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract

Context Obesity is considered to have a detrimental impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Objective To compare HRQoL in a well-defined group of people with obesity with a population-based control group from the general public. Design Observational cross-sectional cohort study with a reference population. Setting The Regional Obesity Center at the Department of Medicine at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Participants People with obesity (n = 1122) eligible for surgical and non-surgical obesity treatment in routine care were included consecutively between 2015 and 2017 into the BASUN study. Men and women from the WHO-MONICA-GOT project were used as a reference population (n = 414). Main outcome measures HRQoL was measured with the RAND-36/Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for self-related health (SRH). Prescription drugs for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, depression, and anxiety were taken as a proxy for these conditions. Results People with obesity rated their overall HRQoL lower than the reference population according to the SRH-VAS. Lower scores were reported on physical and social functioning, vitality, general and mental health after adjustment for age and use of prescription drugs (considered a proxy for burden of disease, or comorbidities) using the RAND-36/SF-36 questionnaire. Use of some psychopharmacological agents was more common in patients with obesity. Conclusion People with obesity seeking help with weight reduction are more likely to have lower physical and mental self-reported HRQoL than the general population.