Factors associated with the quality of life of older people

Abstract

Objective: Examine the relationships between quality of life, nutrition and frailty in non-institutionalized people older than 75 years of age. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, analytical study conducted using a questionnaire with a sample of individuals older than 75 years of age residing in the community, who were selected via convenience sampling during 2015. Results: A larger proportion of women had poor quality of life than men: 20.9% as opposed to 9% (p<0.01). Malnutrition risk was associated with low quality of life (35%) (23.4%) (p<0.000). A larger proportion of frail individuals had poor quality of life: 55.7% against 17.4% (p<0.000). Conclusion: Quality of life of older people is influenced by the presence of depression symptoms, nutritional status, sex, frailty and basic and instrumental disability.