Purpose Nursing home elders experience many problems that may influence their quality of life, in example of cognitive, mental, nutritional and physical disabilities. Concerning about elders’ wellbeing may help them living with dignity. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of institutionalized elders in a capital city of Brazilian Northeast. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 193 institutionalized elders living in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa (Brazil). The following variables were tested regarding their association with the elders’ HRQoL: Socio-demographic characteristics; Performance of daily-living activities, Frailty status, Cognitive status, Nutritional status, Self-perception of oral health and Depression status. Hierarchical multiple linear and logistic regressions analyses were performed in order to assess the impact of each independent variable on HRQoL, considering a significance level of 5%. Results The mean (SD) and the median of HRQoL of institutionalized elders were 62.69(15.24) and 62, respectively. Elderly were mostly (72.02%) female, being those with 80 years and over the more frequent (54.92%). Dependence on daily activities (OR=2.06, 95%CI=1.32-3.23), frailty (OR=1.68, 95%CI=1.15-2.45) and depression (OR=2.22, 95%CI=1.51-3.27) were statistically associated with poor HRQoL (p<0.05). Other variables have no significance within the adjusted model. Conclusions Dependent, frail and depressed institutionalized elderly presented a greater chance to have a worse HRQoL. It is necessary to plan and implement actions that would reduce the factors associated with the low quality of life of institutionalized elderly.

Background To analyze biochemical and microbiological parameters of the saliva of institutionalized elders and to investigate the relation of these parameters with edentulism, use of dentures and presence of biofilm. Material and Methods A cross-sectional study carried was out in seven long-term institutions. Samples (n=161) of unstimulated saliva were collected for analysis of salivary flow, quantification of total proteins and identification of microorganisms. Oral examination was carried out to verify the number of missing teeth, the use of dentures and the presence of visible biofilm on the surface of teeth and dentures. Associations were performed using chi-square or Fisher’s exact test (α<0.05). Mann-Whitney Test was used to identify differences in the salivary flow and total proteins (α<0.05). Results There was no association between the type of edentulism and use of dentures with biochemical and microbiological parameters of saliva ( p >0.05). Associations were observed between the presence of dentures biofilm and the colonization of Streptococcus sp. ( p =0.038) and Candida sp. ( p =0.03). Conclusions The absence of teeth and use of dentures do not influence the amount of total proteins and the microorganisms count in saliva. Denture biofilms are associated with the presence of Streptococcus sp. and Candida sp. in saliva of institutionalized elders. Key words: Candida, long-stay institutions for elders, saliva, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus.

Purpose Nursing home residents experience many problems that may influence their quality of life, in example of cognitive, mental, nutritional and physical disabilities. Concerning about elders’ wellbeing may help them living with dignity. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of institutionalized elderly in a capital city of Brazilian Northeast.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 193 institutionalized elderly living in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa (Brazil). A theoretical-conceptual model was build to guide the multiple regression analysis. The following variables were tested regarding their association with the residents’ HRQoL: 1) socio-demographic characteristics; 2) data associated with general health (Performance of daily-living activities, Frailty status, Cognitive status, Nutritional status, Self-perception of oral health and Depression status). Multiple linear and logistic regressions analyses were performed in order to assess the impact of each independent variable on HRQoL, considering a significance level of 5%.Results The mean ± SD and the median of HRQoL among institutionalized elderly people were 62.69 ± 15.24 and 62, respectively. Elderly were mostly (72.02%) female, being those with 80 years and over the more frequent (54.92%). Dependence on daily activities (OR=2.06, 95%CI=1.32-3.23), frailty (OR=1.68, 95%CI=1.15-2.45) and depression (OR=2.22, 95%CI=1.51-3.27) were statistically associated with poor HRQoL (p<0.05).Conclusions Dependent, frail and depressed institutionalized elderly presented a greater chance to have a worse HRQoL. It is necessary to plan and implement actions that would reduce the factors associated with the low quality of life of institutionalized elderly.