Nutrition-related parameters predict the health-related quality of life in home care patients

Abstract Introduction There is evidence that nutritional status is one of the major factors affecting quality of life. Low quality of life is an important reason that reflects the risk of malnutrition as well as dependency and frailty. Objective The present study aimed to examine nutritional risk factors and sociodemographic features affecting health-related quality of life in home care patients. Materials and methods The data of 209 adult or elderly eligible subjects were evaluated in the study. A general questionnaire including sociodemographic and nutritional characteristics, ‘Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)’, ‘Short Form-36 (SF-36) health related life quality scale’ and ‘24-hour dietary recall’ were applied with face-to-face interview. Anthropometric measurements were performed using standard measurement protocols and, height and weight measurements of bedridden patients were calculated by equality formulas. Results While 52.6% of patients were malnourished according to the MNA, only 7.7% were underweight according to the body mass index (BMI). The SF-36 summary component scores (physical and mental component summary scale scores) of malnourished patients were significantly lower than patients at risk of malnutrition or normal ( p r  = 0.517), BMI ( r  = 0.140) and daily dietary macronutrient intake (energy ( r  = 0.328), protein ( r  = 0.165), carbohydrate ( r  = 0.305), fat ( r  = 0.275) and fiber ( r  = 0.268)) ( p r  = 0.719), BMI ( r  = 0.318), daily dietary macronutrient intake (energy ( r  = 0.388), protein ( r  = 0.204), carbohydrate ( r  = 0.335), fat ( r  = 0.365) and fiber ( r  = 0.349)) ( p Conclusion Periodic nutritional screening of home care patients is important and necessary for early nutritional intervention and thus prevention of morbidity and mortality.