Do Determinants of Quality of Life Differ in Older People Living in the Community and Nursing Homes?

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine and compare the relationship between nutritional status, physical activity (PA) level, concomitant chronic diseases, and quality of life (QoL) in community-dwelling (CD) older people and nursing home (NH) residents. Material and Methods: One hundred NH residents aged 60 years and above and one hundred sex- and age-matched CD older adults were examined. The QoL was examined with the EuroQol-5D questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire (MNA), anthropometric measures, and bioimpedance analysis (BIA). The 7-Day Recall Questionnaire and the Stanford Usual Activity Questionnaire were performed to evaluate the PA energy expenditure level (PA-EE) and the health-related behaviours (PA-HRB), respectively. Results: CD subjects presented a significantly higher self-assessment in the VAS scale in comparison with NH residents (CD: 65.3 ± 19.4 vs. NH 58.2 ± 21.4; p < 0.05), but there were no differences within the five dimensions of QoL. In NH patients, the VAS scale was not correlated with any of the variables evaluating the nutritional status and body composition, while in the CD group correlated positively with MNA (rS = 0.36; p < 0.001), % of FFM (rS = 0.22; p< 0.05), body density (rS = 0.22; p < 0.05) and negatively with % of FM (rS = −0.22; p < 0.05). In an institutional environment, only concomitant diseases (mainly urinary incontinence) were found as independent determinants for QoL. In the community, independent determinants of QoL besides concomitant diseases (mainly ischaemic heart disease) were nutritional status or PA-HRB. Conclusions: Determinants of QoL are different depending on the living environment the older adults. Proper nutritional status and beneficial PA behaviours, are crucial for higher QoL of CD elderly, while for NH residents, the main determinants of QoL are chronic conditions.

The Relationship between Nutritional Risk and the Most Common Chronic Diseases in Hospitalized Geriatric Population from Central Poland

“…The determinants of malnutrition are especially important in the most vulnerable older population, with the risk of naturally developing general poor health or chronic diseases [ 8 ]. Some of these factors could be potentially influenced by the environment of the geriatric population, which has been shown to have a significant impact on nutrition [ 9 ]. If an older person is residing in a hospital or long-term care facility, it has been shown that they are more likely to have a poor nutrition status compared to a community-dwelling older person [ 10 ].…”

Association between Body Mass Index, Physical Activity and Quality of Life amongst Older People in Malaysia during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

“…Previous studies found that low levels of physical and cognitive, being overweight or obese body mass index (BMI), and also physically inactive were related to poor quality of life (QoL) amongst home-dwelling older people (7)(8)(9)(10). Meanwhile, concomitant diseases played an essential role in determining QoL status amongst institutionalised older people (11).…”