Lifetime traumatic events, health-related quality of life, and satisfaction with life in older adults.

<bold>Purposes: </bold>The aims were to assess the association between lifetime traumatic events and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and satisfaction with life stratified by gender among a community-dwelling sample of older adults.<bold>Methods: </bold>Data used came from the ESA-Services study (2011-2013) and included a large convenience sample of 1811 older adults. Traumatic events were measured using a list of 14 events. PTSS was measured using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised. HRQOL and life satisfaction were measured with the EQ-5D-3L and the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the association between traumatic events, PTSS, and quality of life.<bold>Results: </bold>Respondents had a mean age of 73.90 years (SD: 6.13, range 65-97). Our results showed that exposure to violence (OR 4.88, CI 2.72-8.77), an accident (OR 2.33, CI 1.29-4.22), and sexual abuse (OR 2.26 CI 1.17-4.37) was associated with PTSS only in women. No traumatic event was associated only in men. The interaction between gender and exposure to violence and life-threatening disease of a close one was significant. Experiencing violence (β = -0.04, p < 0.01), a natural disaster (β = -0.04, p = 0.02), a life-threatening disease (β = -0.04, p < 0.01), and sexual abuse (β = -0.04, p < 0.01) were associated with a lower HRQOL only in women. No traumatic event was associated in men. Interactions between event and gender were significant for natural disaster, life-threatening disease of a close one, sexual abuse, and other type of traumatic events. A life-threatening disease (β = -0.90, p < 0.01) was associated with a reduced life satisfaction only in men and the exposure of violence (β = -1.18, p < 0.01) was associated with lower life satisfaction in women.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Our study could help healthcare professionals to identify and monitor traumatic events that are at higher risk to be associated with PTSS and a lower quality of life for older men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]