Nutritional status and quality of life are associated with risk of sarcopenia in nursing home residents: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Sarcopenia, which is characterized by an age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, is an important geriatric syndrome that is closely related to the nutritional status and quality of life (QoL) of older adults. The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional status and QoL of nursing home residents according to sarcopenia. We hypothesized that a daily protein intake <1.2 g/kg is associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia. This study was performed with 172 older adults living a nursing home. Sarcopenia was defined according to the consensus of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. The nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form, 24-hour dietary recall. Frailty was evaluated using the Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses, and Loss of weight scale and health-related QoL was evaluated by the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions scale. In addition to the anthropometric measurements associated with sarcopenia, QoL was also lower in sarcopenic individuals. The risk of malnutrition and frailty status were more prevalent among the sarcopenic individuals. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, a higher QoL score was related with a low risk for sarcopenia, whereas the risk of malnutrition, a daily protein intake that was <1.2 g/kg/d, and being >80 years of age remained predictive of sarcopenia after adjustment. Sarcopenic nursing home residents have a great risk of malnutrition and lower QoL. This study showed that QoL, the risk of malnutrition, and daily protein intake are important factors as potential target areas for the management of sarcopenia in nursing home residents.