QUALITY OF LIFE AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS AMONG 65-YEAR-OLD OR OLDER PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE AND/OR CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Introduction
The occurrence of chronic diseases, like heart failure (HF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),significantly influences both seniors’ nutritional status and the quality of their life.

Aim of the study
Determination of the relationship between a nutritional status and a life quality among patients with HF and/or patients with COPD aged over 65.

Material and methods
The study group consisted of 120 hospitalized people aged over 65, suffering from NS and/or COPD. Tools used in the study: own construction questionnaire, MNA scale and SF-36v2®Health Survey.

Results
55.8% of patients were in danger of malnutrition, 10.0% were undernourished. An average value of the quality of life index was62.54±13.15pt, physical dimension – 72±13.67 pt and mental – 44.58±18.87 pt. Quality of life index and its physical and mental dimensions dependedon nutritional status assessed by MNA scale (p<0.001).

Conclusions
1) The nutritional status of the majority of respondents was unsatisfactory. 2) The quality of life in the study group was not high. 3) The general level of lifequality, as well as its physical and mental dimensions, were significantly different depending on the nutritional status of the subjects.