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Lima Duarte Moser A.1, Gomes da Silva T.1, Farias Jesus E.1, Naila Souza G.2, Falcade Scremim Guadagnin C.2
1Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Paraná, Programa de Pos Graduação em Tecnologia em Saude, Curitiba, Brazil, 2Hospital Universitário Cajuru, Fisioterapia, Curitiba, Brazil
Background: The aging process affects the functional capacity and nutritional status influence quality of life (QoL). This added to institutionalization can bring injury problems.
Purpose: Identify the relationship between functionality, nutritional status and QoL of institutionalized elderly.
Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study with residents of institutions for the elderly in the city of Curitiba, State of Parana, Brazil. Participants were people over 65 years old without cognitive impairment. The study was approved by the Ethics in Research with human beings and the variables and instruments were age, sex, education level, functionality (WHODAS 2.0), nutritional status (MNA) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21, with a significance level of p 0.05. The correlation between the study variables was taken by Spearman test.
Results: Was included 82 older adults with a mean age of 75.43 ± 7.19, 38% women and 62% men and 59.8% were classified as no study, 25.6% as primary level and 14% as tertiary level of study. The functionality score was 21.46 ± 19.1%, indicating low level of disability, 56% had nutritional risk and 3.6% were malnourished. The average score of QoL was 73.65 ± 15.0. Significant correlation was found in Spearman test between QoL and function (r= -0.401, p = 0.001), and between functionality and nutritional status (r = -0.379 and p = 0.001). The correlation between QoL and nutritional status was not significant (r = 0.128, p = 0.126).
Conclusion(s): The functionality and QoL are dimensions interdependent and very important in the lives of the older adults and should be considered for the improvement of care practices in the institutions. The nutritional status did not show significantly influence in the QoL, but was correlated with functionality. Future studies should include assessment of satisfaction with food, in addition to the nutritional status to establish more broadly the impact of food on the QoL of institutionalized elderly, since the act of eating involves many components that go beyond the intake nutrient.
Implications: The institutionalization process is an impact to the routine of the elderly and the adaptability process influence their QoL. If we consider that the act of eating is a significant action for people, repeated several times a day for every day we understand that an adequate nutrition can improve the functionality levels and quality of life. The results of the study can help managers and health staff of institutions to outline adequate care practices to stimulate and maintain functionality as well as improve the menu offered in order to reduce the risk of malnutrition and restore the nutritional status of malnourished elderly.
Funding acknowledgements: None Funding acknowledgements
Topic: Older people
Ethics approval: Approved by the Ethics Committee on Human Research of the Catholic University of Paraná, protocol 852,833.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
