The quantitative effect of nutrition support on quality of life in outpatients

One hundred thirty-one poorly rehabilitated patients with chronic disease, presenting sequentially to a nutrition support clinic, were divided into those with a body mass index of less then the desirable range of 20-25 kg/m(2) (group 1) and those with an index within the desirable range (group 2). The intention was for weight gain in group 1 and maintenance in group 2. Anthropometric measures and Nottingham Health Profile quality of life scores were recorded at presentation and at subsequent attendances. Nutritional interventions included dietary advice, oral supplements, nasogastric feeding, percutaneous endoscopic feeding and home total parenteral nutrition. Weight gain occurred in 84.6% of group 1 with a mean gain of 4.24 kg (P=3 x 10(-9)). Lean body mass increased by a mean 2.09 kg in group 1 (P=0.0008). There was no statistically significant weight change in group 2. For group 1 there was a statistically significant improvement in every category of QOL score (energy P<0.001, pain P<0.01, emotion P<0.01, sleep P<0.01, social isolation P<0.05, mobility P<0.05), but no statistically significant improvement occurred in any category for group 2. Restitution of body weight and lean body mass is associated with significant improvement in quality of life indices in chronic illness.