Physical and psychological states interfere with health-related quality of life of institutionalized elderly: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Nursing home elders experience many problems that may influence their quality of life, in example of cognitive, mental, nutritional and physical disabilities. Concerning about elders’ wellbeing may help them living with dignity. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of institutionalized elders in a capital city of Brazilian Northeast. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 125 institutionalized elders living in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa (Brazil). The following variables were tested regarding their association with the elders’ HRQoL: Socio-demographic characteristics; Performance of daily-living activities, Frailty status, Cognitive status, Nutritional status, Self-perception of oral health and Depression status. Hierarchical multiple Poisson loglinear and binary logistic regressions analyses were performed in order to assess the impact of each independent variable on HRQoL, considering a significance level of 5%. Results The median of HRQoL of institutionalized elders was 64. Multivariate regression models showed that retirement, frailty and depression were statistically associated with poor HRQoL (p < 0.05). Not-frail elderly and less depressed were more likely to present higher HRQoL scores. Conclusions Lower HRQoL of institutionalized elderly is associated with decline of physical and psychological states. Institutions should be advised to plan and implement actions that would improve the HRQoL of institutionalized elderly.

Cognitive Differences in the Older Adults Living in the General Community: Gender and Mental Occupational State Study

“…As the world population ages and life expectancy prolongs, cognitive changes will present formidable challenges in the healthcare, social, and financial domains [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. In the elderly population, “successful” aging depends on maintaining optimal cognitive brain performance [ 6 ].…”

Pessoas idosas institucionalizadas, transtornos depressivos e questões odontológicas: qual o estado da arte?

“…In the articles in which oral health was addressed, the most prevalent oral problems in old people were cited, among which tooth loss, periodontitis, xerostomia, lesions in the oral mucosa and dental cavities stand out. The control of these diseases, in addition to bringing benefits to oral health, also provides improvement in general health 15 . However, the epidemiological pattern of oral diseases in old people is changing as the population ages.…”

“…The theme "Depression in institutionalized old people: medicalization, oral health conditions and subjectivities", brings the institutionalized old person to the focus of the discussion between depressive disorders and issues involving oral health, as depression in institutionalized old people can lead to functional impairments and loss of autonomy for selfcare 14 . In addition to these aspects, institutionalized and depressed old people have a high prevalence of tooth loss, lack of preventive care and lack of access to dental treatments, which leads to worse oral health 15 .…”

“…The only subject addressed regarding oral health in the aforementioned Theme 2, was the number of teeth in mouth 50 . Oral health and depression can be associated and the reduced number of teeth is a reflection of this association 6,15,23 . Studies that address the mental health of institutionalized old people and their relationship with the oral health of this population do not seem to be representative in the world literature.…”

“…Depressive symptoms in old people can be determinant of cavities which shows that depression can affect the oral health of old people 11,12 . Institutionalized old people are more affected by depressive disorders and, in this process, it is believed that the prevalence of oral problems in institutionalized old people is an important indicator related to depression in this group of old people 13,14,15 .…”