YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (TCHS) is pleased to announce a new publication by Diana Muradyan (MPH ’20), M.D., Ph.D.; Aida Giloyan (MPH ’07), M.S.; Tsovinar Harutyunyan (MPH ’99), Ph.D.; and Varduhi Petrosyan, M.S., Ph.D., in Frontiers in Public Health, a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal with an impact factor of 3.4 and a Q1 ranking that publishes developments in all fields of public health research, from disease prevention to health systems and policy.
Titled “Health-related quality of life and associated factors among older refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh residing in Kotayk province of Armenia,” the article explores health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among refugees aged 50 years and older, with the goal of identifying health challenges and informing evidence-based interventions for this vulnerable population.
The study found that age, sleep disorders, respiratory diseases, bone/joint diseases, and diabetes were significantly associated with both physical (PHC) and mental (MHC) health components, while heart disease showed a significant association with the PHC of HRQoL. About 50% of the participants had more than one non-communicable disease (NCD), while having multiple NCDs was strongly and negatively associated with HRQoL, highlighting the burden of multimorbidity in older forcefully displaced populations.
These findings underline the need for targeted support systems for older refugees, especially those experiencing NCDs and sleep disturbances. The authors emphasize that governmental support and health interventions focusing on the management of NCDs, integrated care, and long-term monitoring might improve well-being and reduce vulnerability in this population. Follow-up assessments should trace variations in both PHC and MHC scores among refugees, as they may vary over time in response to the challenges associated with forced displacement.
The publication contributes to a growing body of evidence on aging and refugee health and highlights the importance of monitoring both physical and mental health outcomes among older refugees.
The AUA Professional Development Program partially supported the publication fee in 2026.
The AUA Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian College of Health Sciences works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of health professionals to be leaders in public health, nursing, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.