Abstract

ObjectivesWe evaluated the associations between nutritional status and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) among older long-term care residents in Helsinki.Design and participantsAll 3767 older (≥65 years) long-term care residents in Helsinki in 2017 were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. After refusals and exclusions of residents without sufficient information, 2160 residents remained.MeasurementsData on characteristics, nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment, MNA) and HRQoL (15D) were collected by trained nurses.ResultsOf the participants, 64% were at-risk of malnutrition and 18% suffered from malnutrition. Residents in the “malnourished” group were more dependent in activities of daily living (ADL) functioning, suffered more often from dementia, had lower cognitive level, used less medications, and were eating more often inadequately. HRQoL was statistically significantly associated with MNA total score in both female and male residents. There was a curvilinear correlation between MNA and 15D score in females: 0.50 (95% CI 0.46 to 0.53) and males: 0.56 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.61). In partial correlation analysis, all dimensions of 15D, except for sleeping and breathing, were positively associated with MNA score. In these analyses no significant differences emerged between males and females when the results were adjusted for age and dementia.ConclusionsNutrition plays an important role in HRQoL among older long-term care residents.

Highlights

  • About 14-21% of nursing home residents have suffered from malnutrition when measured with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool [1]

  • The aim of this study was to explore the association of Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to a 15D measure in long-term care residents aged over 65 -years living Helsinki, Finland

  • According to MNA, 64% were at-risk of malnutrition and 18% suffered from malnutrition

Read more

Summary

Introduction

About 14-21% of nursing home residents have suffered from malnutrition when measured with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool [1]. The relationship between nutrition status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older people has not been extensively studied. In home-dwelling older people poorer nutritional status has been associated with poorer HRQoL [2,3,4,5,6]. Studies exploring the relationship between nutritional status and HRQoL are scarce in institutional settings. A low body-mass index (BMI) indicative of protein-caloric malnutrition was associated with poor quality of life (QoL) [7]. Better nutritional status has been shown to be associated with better psychological wellbeing (PWB) among nursing home residents [8]

Objectives
Methods
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call