Gait speed and malnutrition in hospitalized patients and the quality of life of their caregivers

Rev Bras Enferm. 2020 Sep 30;73Suppl 5(Suppl 5):e20190776. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0137-2019-0776. eCollection 2020.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Objective: To verify the age, nutritional status, and gait speed in hospitalized individuals, and their association with the quality of life of their caregivers.

Methods: Observational cross-sectional study with 54 patients and their respective caretakers in a university hospital in the Brazilian Midwest. The analyses were carried out using the SPSS software, with p < 0.05.

Results: The Social Relations domain had the highest mean score (71.45±18.64). The lowest score was in the Physical domain (57.80±12.01). According to a subjective nutritional evaluation, 72.2% presented some degree of malnutrition. Most were classified with low gait speeds (82%). There was a significant correlation between age and the Physical and General Quality of Life domains. The Environment domain was significantly correlated to the gait speed.

Conclusion: The age and the gait speed of the patient were related to the quality of life of the caregiver, but the nutritional state was not affected.

MeSH terms

  • Brazil
  • Caregivers
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Malnutrition* / complications
  • Malnutrition* / epidemiology
  • Quality of Life*
  • Walking Speed