Aging process in nursing homes: multicentric assessment of physical and nutritional status, self-perceived health, quality of life and oral condition

Abstract

Living in a nursing home means being inserted in a context different of the community, which can affect the general health, Quality of Life (QoL) and oral health of the elderly. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how the aging process occurs within the Brazilian nursing homes. This multicenter study aims to assess transversely and longitudinally the institutionalized older adults regarding socioeconomic, general and health data, physical and nutritional status, QoL, self-perceived health and oral health condition. The cross-sectional study will be carried out in nursing homes of three Brazilian cities (Piracicaba, João Pessoa and Belo Horizonte), while the longitudinal study will be conducted in Piracicaba and João Pessoa. The socioeconomic, general and health data that will be collected are age, sex, marital status, education, length of institutionalization, mobility, health problems and use of medications. The assessment of physical status will include the variables sarcopenia, frailty, maximal grip strength and dependence on activities of daily living. The Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form questionnaire and the Body Mass Index will be used to assess the nutritional status. The assessment of QoL will include both the health related QoL and the oral health related QoL. Self-perceived general and oral health will be verified using a Likert scale. The oral health condition will be assessed using the DMFT, posterior occlusal pairs, use and need of prosthesis, denture condition, xerostomia and masticatory performance. The data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (hypotheses of association and/or difference), considering p <0.05 and ² <0.20. (AU)