Non-institutionalized nonagenarians health-related quality of life and nutritional status: is there a link between...

Nonagenarian population, clearly increasing, shows different characteristics from the rest of elderly people. Health-related quality of life is a way to study population health in physical, psychological and social dimensions.

To examine the relationship between nutritional status and health-related quality of life in a group of free-living nonagenarians. Differences with octogenarians were also studied.

Within Villanueva Older Health Study, 20 non-institutionalised people (92.5 ± 3.5 years; 80% women) make the nonagenarian subsample. Nutritional risk was assessed by Mininutritional Assessment questionnaire, dietary intake by a 24-hour dietary recall and health-related quality of life by EuroQoL-5D questionnaire. SPSS was used for statistical analysis.

40% nonagenarians were at risk of malnutrition. Dietary assessment showed magnesium, zinc, potassium, folic acid, vitamin D and vitamin E deficiencies. Problems in mobility were more frequently reported (80%). EQ-5Dindex was associated with MNA(p<0.05). Self-care dimension was associated with calcium and niacin(p<0.05), retinol and cholesterol(p<0.01) intake. Usual activities dimension was associated with niacin(p<0.01) and cholesterol(p<0.05) intake. Pain/discomfort dimension was associated with protein(p<0.01), energy, selenium and niacin(p<0.05) intake. Anxiety/depression was associated with protein(p<0.01) and selenium(p<0.05) intake.

Risk of malnutrition is a factor associated to health-related quality of life. Results suggest that energy and some nutrient intakes could be possibly associated to health-related quality of life but further research on this influence is required.