Protein intake, handgrip strength, risk of fall and quality of life among older nursing home residents

Introduction The prevalence of low quality of life (QoL) remains high among older adults. Understanding the relationship between protein consumption, handgrip strength, fall risk, and QoL is crucial. This study aimed to analyze the association between these variables among older residents of a nursing home. Methods A cross-sectional design was used for this study with a sample size of 56 subjects. Protein intake data were collected using the Visual Comstock method. Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured using a CAMRY handgrip dynamometer, and fall risk was assessed using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). QoL was evaluated using the EQ-5D-5L, which comprises five domains. The associations between variables were analyzed using Spearman's correlation with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results 56 elderly subjects, with an average age of 70.82 ± 8 years, were involved in this study at a nursing home in Surabaya, Indonesia. The majority of subjects had insufficient protein intake (80.4%), low muscle strength (92.9%), and a high risk of falling (66.1%). 44.6% of the elderly were found to have a low QoL. Protein intake, HGS, and fall risk were significantly associated with overall QoL with coefficient correlation 0.346, 0.385, and −0.821, respectively. Both Fall risk and HGS showed significant associations with mobility, self-care, and daily activity, Meanwhile, the significant association were found between protein intake and mobility (p = 0.044) and daily activities (p = 0.029). Conclusions The findings show significant associations between fall risk, protein intake, and HGS with the QoL of the elderly, particularly in specific domains. These results highlight that improving variables is important for enhancing the overall QoL of older adults.