Materials and Method: Totally 2605 elders (1343 males, 1262 females) living in Kayseri were recruited. A questionnaire including the socio demographic characteristics, the Mini Nutritional Assessment and the WHOQOL-OLD forms was filled out by face to face interviews. Body height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured and body mass index, waistto- hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio were calculated. Data were analyzed with chi-square, Student's t and multiple linear regression analysis tests.
Results: Of the elderly, 49.2% were at risk of malnutrition, 5.8% had malnutrition. The ratio of women with malnutrition (7.6%) was higher than men (4.0%) (p<0.001). Total quality of life and subfield scores of women were lower than those of men (total scores were 86.46±12.35 and 92.70±11.87, respectively). Total quality of life and subfield scores of elders without nutritional risk based on Mini Nutritional Assessment Scores were significantly higher than those of elders with malnutrition risk and malnutrition (p<0.001). A relationship was found between the total WHOQOL-OLD scores and Mini Nutritional Assessment Scores scores in women (R2=0.16) and the total WHOQOL-OLD scores and Mini Nutritional Assessment Scores score and age in men (R2=0.25) (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Total quality of life and facets scores were low in the elderly with risk of malnutrition. Closely monitoring the nutritional status of the community dwelling elderly and providing necessary interventions may help improve the quality of life.
Keywords : Malnutrition; Nutritional Status; Quality of Life; Questionnaires