# Nutritional Status and Health-Related Quality of Life among Home-Dwelling Older Adults Aged 75 Years: The PORI75 Study

## TL;DR

This study found that poor nutrition is linked to lower quality of life in 75-year-old people living at home, especially in men.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the link between nutritional status and health-related quality of life in older adults.

## Key findings

- 11% of participants had decreased nutritional status (MNA score < 24).
- Lower MNA scores were strongly associated with lower HRQoL (r = 0.45).
- Men showed a stronger association between poor nutrition and lower HRQoL than women.

## Abstract

Malnutrition in older people has been considered as a health concern associated with a range of implications for health and functional ability. However, evidence of nutrition and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older people is limited. The aim of this study was to study the associations between nutritional status and HRQoL among home-dwelling older adults aged 75 years. In this cross-sectional study, we studied 75-year-old home-dwelling residents who participated in PORI75 preventive health screenings in 2020 and completed the full Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). The participants’ HRQoL was measured using the 15D instrument. Altogether, 462 participants (60% women) were included. Of these, 11% had decreased nutritional status (MNA score < 24); 12.7% were women and 8.6% were men, with no difference between the sexes (p = 0.17). A relationship was found between HRQoL and the MNA: a decreased MNA score was associated with decreased HRQoL (p < 0.001, r = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.53). All 15 HRQoL dimensions (except hearing) were associated with the MNA score. Among the men, the association was stronger compared to the women, especially when the MNA score was <24, indicating decreased nutritional status. In conclusion, impaired nutritional status seems to be associated with impaired HRQoL among 75-year-old people living at home, especially among men.