Older adults aged 80 or above are rarely the focus of research in the context of managing chronic conditions. Additionally, psychological aspects, such as well-being and quality of life are often overlooked in disease management studies. To address these knowledge gaps, a new project aims to compile the first comprehensive characterisation of modifiable protective and risk factors for quality of life in people of this age group living with cardiovascular disease.
Examining the role of modifiable psycho-social factors in health and wellbeing
Cardiovascular disease significantly impacts the rapidly growing population of individuals aged 80 and above. However, despite being the most affected age group, there is limited research on how these individuals manage their disease and their quality of life.
To better understand the experiences of this understudied group, the ‘Aging Heart Zurich’ study investigates psycho-social factors of individuals aged 80 and above with cardiovascular disease. This innovative project is led by an interdisciplinary team of cardiologists (University Hospital Zurich) and health psychologists (University of Zurich), including principal investigators Matthias Hermann, Urte Scholz and Walter Bierbauer. The project team is offering a fresh perspective, by examining not only heart health of older adults but also health behaviours and quality of life.
By integrating psycho-social data – such as on health behaviours, anxiety, depression, and social exchange processes – with clinical data from the hospital’s systems, ‘Aging Heart Zurich’ adopts a holistic approach to understanding healthy ageing in older cardiovascular patients. This approach seeks to identify the strengths and resources older adults bring to their health journey, challenging the traditional focus on the deficits or limitations of ageing.
The study aims to uncover which psycho-social factors might protect or support individuals in their 80s and beyond, and which factors could pose potential risks in managing their condition. The hypothesis is that the results will highlight the importance of psycho-social processes in individual health trajectories. A better understanding of how different cardiovascular disease conditions and modifiable psycho-social factors are linked to maintaining quality of life will guide more holistic and personalized treatment recommendations.
