An investigation into the relationships between quality of life, nutritional status and physical function

Background & aims: The measurement of quality of life adds a holistic dimension to the assessment of a clinical state or the response to an intervention. The relationship between quality of life and nutritional status is not well studied. This study aimed to investigate this relationship in a group of sick elderly in-patients. Methods: We used data from a RCT investigating the benefits of intensive feeding support on acute medicine for the elderly wards. The EuroQol EQ-5D questionnaire was administered to patients on admission and the results were then related to parameters of nutritional status, physical function, depression and serum albumin collected at the same time. Results: Two hundred and thirty-three patients completed the EQ-5D questionnaire. Comparisons with UK norms for community living elderly showed significantly lower scores. No direct relationship was found between the EQ-5D scores and markers of nutritional status. However, clear differences were observed between patients with and without swallowing problems, those with good and poor appetite and those with good and poor physical function. Increasing risk of depression had a profound effect on quality of life scores. Conclusions: Nutritional status does not appear to directly influence quality of life, as measured by the EQ-5D, but may affect it through the consequences of reduced physical function. Additionally, factors that directly affect a persons food intake seem to have a greater impact on quality of life, which underlines the importance of food and eating as an aspect of life quality.