Table 2 Data collection of the eligible articles

Urciuoli et al., 1998 [24]

(Italy)

Cross-sectional

Convenience sample

(n = 66, being 29 IE and 37 NIE)

IE = 4 male and 25 females; NIE = 6 male and 31 females

Age: > 88 years

LEIPAD (The lower the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–93 points

Physical functions: IE: mean = 7.20, SD = 1.91; NIE: mean = 6.55, SD = 2.37 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Self-care skills: IE: mean = 12.86, SD = 3.39; NIE: mean = 10.45, SD = 5.58 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Cognitive functions: IE: mean = 4.50, SD = 2.08; NIE: mean = 4.74, SD = 2.91 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Depression and anxiety: IE: mean = 1.79, SD = 2.42; NIE: mean = 2.23, SD = 2.17 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Social functions: IE mean = 3.48, SD = 1.80; NIE: mean = 2.79, SD = 1.93 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Sexual functions: IE mean = 6.00, SD = 0.00; NIE: mean = 6.00, SD = 0.00 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)

Life Satisfaction: IE mean = 4.75, SD = 2.31; NIE: mean = 5.52, SD = 2.83 (p > 0,05, Student’s T-test)

Akça; Sahin, 2008 [10]

(Turkey)

Cross-sectional

Convenience sample

(n = 251, being 90 IE and 124 NIE)

IE = 52 male and 38 females; NIE = 87 male and 37 females

Age: ≥ 60 years

LEIPAD (The lower the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–93 points

Physical functions: IE mean = 12.70, SD = 2.67; NIE: mean = 12.46, SD = 2.51 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Self-care skills: IE mean = 9.63, SD = 4.76; NIE: mean = 10.28, SD = 5.00 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Cognitive functions: IE mean = 11.28, SD = 2.39; NIE: mean = 12.04, SD = 2.43 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Depression and anxiety: IE mean = 9.14, SD = 2.95; NIE: mean = 9.94, SD = 3.29 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Social functions: IE mean = 7.94, SD = 1.91; NIE: mean = 7.21, SD = 2.28 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Sexual functions: IE mean = 7.43, SD = 1.25; NIE: mean = 6.33, SD = 1.50 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Life Satisfaction: IE mean = 17.19, SD = 2.66; NIE: mean = 16.90, SD = 3.20 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Bonan et al., 2008

[14]

(Brazil)

Cross-sectional

Convenience Sample

(n = 90, being 45 IE and 45 NIE)

IE = 22 male and 23 females; NIE = 20 male and 25 females

Age: > 55 years

GOHAI (The higher the scores, the better the QoL) Scale: 0–60 points

IE: mean = 50, SD = 8; NIE: mean = 50, SD = 6

(p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Bodur; Cingil, 2009 [13]

(Turkey)

Cross-sectional

Convenience Sample

(n = 74, being 37 IE and 37 NIE)

IE = 60% male and 40% females; NIE = 38% male and 62% females

Age: > 60 years

WHOQOL-BREF (The higher the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–100 points

General Health: IE: mean = 71.9, SD = 20.4; NIE: mean = 65.1, SD = 18.8 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Physical Health: IE: mean = 62.2, SD = 29.7; NIE: mean = 58.1, SD = 22.3 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Psychological Health: IE: mean = 66.2, SD = 24.7; NIE: mean = 63.1, SD = 20.3 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Social relationship: IE: mean = 58.1, SD = 23.7; NIE: mean = 73.9, SD = 23.0 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Environmental area: IE: mean = 66.5, SD = 17.2; NIE: mean = 75.9, SD = 17.9 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Alcarde et al., 2010 [11]

(Brazil)

Cross-sectional

Convenience Sample

(n = 137, being 90 IE and 47 NIE)

IE = 68 male and 69 females; NIE = 68 male and 69 females

Age: 60 to 92 years

GOHAI (The higher the scores, the better the QoL) Scale: 0–60 points

IE: median ≤ 28 (n = 55, 61.1%) and > 28 (n = 35, 38.9%);

NIE: median ≤ 28 (n = 18, 38.3%) and > 28 (n = 29, 61.7%)

(p < 0,05, Chi-square test)

Bodner et al., 2011 [12] (Israel)

Cross-sectional

Convenience Sample

(n = 126, being 32 IE and 94 NIE)

IE = 33,4% male and 65,6% females; NIE = 47,8% male and 52,2% females

Age: > 64 years

SF-36 (The higher the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–100 points

The ‘general health perceptions’, ‘physical functioning’, ‘physical role functioning’, ‘bodily pain’, ‘vitality’ and ‘emotional role functioning’ did not show significant difference between the IE and NIE

Mental Health: IE: mean = 51.23, SD = 29.82; NIE: mean = 79.45, SD = 12.78 (p < 0.05, MANCOVA)

Social Functioning: IE: mean = 94.94, SD = 22.54; NIE: mean = 76.70, SD = 20.09 (p < 0.05, MANCOVA)

Ramos et al., 2012 [23]

(South Africa)

Cross-sectional

Convenience sample

(n = 284, being 73 IE and 175 NIE)

Distribution according sex not informed

Age: > 60 years

WHOQOL-OLD (The higher the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–100 points

Sensorial abilities: IE: mean = 40, SD = 15.1; NIE: mean = 50.2, SD = 14.2 (p < 0.05, Student’s t test)

Autonomy: IE: mean = 28.3, SD = 16.5; NIE: mean = 36.5, SD = 20.9 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)

Past, present and future activities: IE: mean = 38.5, SD = 15.2; NIE: mean = 52.6, SD = 13.4 (p < 0.05, Student’s t test) Death and dying: IE: mean = 61.2, SD = 15.7; NIE: mean = 72.6, SD = 15.2 (p < 0.05, Student’s t test)

Social participation: IE: mean = 63.6, SD = 17.1; NIE: mean = 76.2, SD = 16.1 (p < 0.05, Student’s t test)

Intimacy: IE: mean = 57.3, SD = 21.7; NIE: mean = 74.7, SD = 21.7 (p < 0.05, Student’s t test)

Vitorino et al., 2013 [25]

(Brazil)

Cross-sectional

Convenience sample

(n = 354, being 66 IE and 288 NIE)

IE = 38 male and 38 females; NIE = 94 male and 194 females

Age: 60 to 80 or older

WHOQOL-BREF (The higher the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–100 points

General Health: IE: mean = 69.83, SD = 19.18; NIE: mean = 69.81, SD = 19.01 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)

Physical Health: IE: mean = 63.6, SD = 22.14; NIE: mean = 68.61, SD = 18.26 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)

Psychological Health: IE: mean = 65.19, SD = 17.62; NIE: mean = 69.69, SD = 15.33 (p < 0.05, Student’s t test)

Social relationship: IE: mean = 67.87, SD = 20.31; NIE: mean = 75.10, SD = 17.27 (p < 0.05, Student’s t test)

Environmental area: IE: mean = 66.20, SD = 15.42; NIE: mean = 65.09, SD = 16.19 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)

Even-Zohar, 2014 [17]

(Israel)

Cross-sectional

Convenience Sample

(n = 115, being 60 IE and 55 NIE)

IE = 20 male and 40 females; NIE = 23 male and 32 females

Age: IE: mean = 74.7 and NIE: mean = 75.8

WHOQOL-BREF (The higher the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–20 points

Physical health: IE: mean = 3.06, SD = 0.457; NIE: mean = 3.70, SD = 0.623. (p < 0.05, Multivariate analysis of covariance)

Psychological health: IE: mean = 3.03, SD = 0.42; NIE: mean = 3.82, SD = 0.57 (p < 0.05, Multivariate analysis of covariance)

Social relationship: IE: mean = 2.90, SD = 0.81; NIE: mean = 4.06, SD = 0.62 (p < 0.05, Multivariate analysis of covariance)

Environmental area: IE: mean = 2.96, SD = 0.46; NIE mean = 3.85, SD = 0.57 (p < 0.05, Multivariate analysis of covariance)

Khoury; Sá-Neves, 2014 [19]

(Brazil)

Cross-sectional

Convenience Sample

(n = 66, being 33 IE and 33 NIE)

IE = 13 male and 20 females; NIE = 8 male and 25 females

Age: 60 to 96 years

WHOQOL-OLD (The higher the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–100 points

Sensory Abilities: IE: mean = 27.86; NIE: mean = 39.14 (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test)

Autonomy: IE: mean = 26.76; NIE: mean = 40.24 (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test)

Past, present and future activities: IE: mean = 27.95; NIE: mean = 39,05 (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test)

Death and dying: IE: mean = 33.17; NIE mean = 33.83 (p > 0.05, Mann-Whitney test)

Social participation: IE: mean = 28.17; NIE: mean = 38.83 (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test)

Intimicy: IE: mean = 27.48; NIE: mean = 39.52 (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test)

Dagios et al., 2015 [16]

(Brazil)

Cross-sectional

Convenience Sample

(n = 136, being 36 IE and 100 NIE)

IE = 25 male and 11 females; NIE = 37 male and 63 females

Age: >  60 years

WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD (The higher the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–20 points

WHOQOL-BREF

General Health: IE: mean = 10.17, SD = 3.04; NIE: mean = 14.06, SD = 3.84 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Physical Health: IE: mean = 10.08, SD = 3.32; NIE: mean = 14.61, SD = 2.73 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Psychological Health: IE: mean = 11.35, SD = 2.65; NIE: mean = 16.02, SD = 2.54 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Social relationship: IE: mean = 10.67, SD = 3.12; NIE: mean = 15.28, SD = 2.66 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Environmental area: IE: mean = 10.64, SD = 1.73; NIE: mean = 12.88, SD = 2.08 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

WHOQOL-OLD

Sensory Abilities: IE: mean = 11.00, SD = 3.06; NIE: mean = 15.69, SD = 3.26 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Autonomy: IE: mean = 9.21, SD = 2.53; NIE: mean = 14.69, SD = 2.04 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Past, Present and Future Activities: IE: mean = 9.64, SD = 3.0; NIE: mean = 15.12, SD = 2.65 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Death and dying: IE: mean = 14.21, SD = 3.14; NIE: mean = 14.69, SD = 3.07 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Social Participation: IE: mean = 9.30, SD = 3.64; NIE: mean = 14.93, SD = 2.80 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Intimicy: IE: mean = 10.22, SD = 2.85; NIE: mean = 15.52, SD = 3.59 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Rachadel et al., 2015 [21]

(Brazil)

Cross-sectional

Convenience sample

(n = 61, being 21 IE and 40 NIE)

Distribution according sex not informed

Age: > 60 years

SF-36 (The higher the scores, the better the QoL) Scale: 0–100 points

Physical functioning: IE: mean = 35.9, SD = 25.9; NIE-Active: mean = 78, SD = 19.6; NIE-Not-Active: mean = 51, SD = 27.3 (p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis)

Role physical: IE: mean = 79.7, SD = 33.1; NIE-Active: mean = 62.5, SD = 39.3; NIE-Not-Active: mean = 52.5, SD = 41.2 (p > 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis)

Bodily pain: IE: mean = 83.2, SD = 21.6; NIE-Active: mean = 61.4, SD = 25.9; NIE-Not-Active: mean = 54.4, SD = 33.3 (p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis)

General Health Perceptions: IE: mean = 68.1, SD = 20.5; NIE-Active: mean = 68.4, SD = 22.2; NIE-Not-Active: mean = 58.7, SD = 29.9 (p > 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis)

Role Emotional: IE: mean = 87.3, SD = 12.8; NIE -Active: mean = 73.3, SD = 35.2; NIE-Not-Active: mean = 76.6, SD = 34.3 (p > 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis)

Vitality: IE: mean = 70.7, SD = 12.4; NIE-Active: mean = 69.7, SD = 19.7; NIE-Not-Active: mean = 66.0, SD = 23.4 (p > 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis)

Mental health: IE: mean = 78.1, SD = 24.2; NIE -Active: mean = 77.2, SD = 19.6; NIE-Not-Active: mean = 69, SD = 27.9 (p > 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis)

Social functioning: IE: mean = 95.8, SD = 4.4; NIE-Active: mean = 85, SD = 23.5; NIE-Not-Active: mean = 78.7, SD = 30.6 (p > 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis)

Cucato et al., 2016 [15]

(Brazil)

Cross-sectional

Convenience Sample

(n = 496, being 99 IE and 387 NIE)

IE = 24 male e 75 females; NIE = Living with family: 110 male and 170 females, Living alone: 42 male and 75 females

Age: > 65 years

WHOQOL-BREF (The higher the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–20 points

Institutionalized elderly men presented higher scores in physical domains compared to non-institutionalized elderly men that lives alone (p < 0.05, ANOVA). The scores in all domains (physical, psychological, relationship, and environment) were similar among the three groups (p < 0.05, ANOVA)

Herazo-Beltrán et al., 2017 [18]

(Colombia)

Cross-sectional

Convenience Sample

(n = 245, being 113 IE and 132 NIE)

IE = 48 male and 65 females; NIE = 56 male and 75 females

Age: Not informed

SF-36 (The higher the scores, the better the QoL) Scale: 0–100 points

Physical Functioning: IE mean = 49.5, SD = 30.4; NIE: mean = 75.4, SD = 25.6 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Role physical: IE mean = 35.8, SD = 40.6; NIE: mean = 57.2, SD = 40.5 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Bodily Pain: IE mean = 62.5, SD = 30.1; NIE: mean = 69.1, SD = 27.3 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

General Health Perceptions: IE mean = 58.2, SD = 21.3; NIE: mean = 59.5, SD = 18.6 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Role Emotional: IE mean = 45.1, SD = 43.1; NIE: mean = 61.6, SD = 43.4 (p < 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Vitality: IE mean = 64.1, SD = 23.8; NIE: mean = 68.1, SD = 19.2 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Mental Health: IE mean = 64.8, SD = 22.8; NIE: mean = 68.6, SD = 24.5 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Social Functioning: IE mean = 69.9, SD = 24.8; NIE: mean = 75.7, SD = 23.1 (p > 0.05, Student’s T-test)

Kuok et al., 2017 [20]

(China)

Cross-sectional

Randomly selected

(n = 451, being 248 IE and 203 NIE)

IE = 35 male and 213 females; NIE = 61 male and 142 females

Age: ≥50 years

WHOQOL-BREF (The higher the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–20 points

Physical Health: IE: mean = 13.0, SD = 2.6; NIE: mean = 14.6, SD = 2.2 (p > 0.05, ANCOVA)

Psychological Health: IE: mean = 13.2, SD = 2.4; NIE: mean = 14.6, SD = 2.2 (p > 0.05, ANCOVA)

Social relationship: IE: mean = 14.0, SD = 2.6; NIE: mean = 14.4, SD = 2.3 (p > 0.05, ANCOVA)

Environmental area: IE: mean = 13.5, SD = 2.0; NIE: mean = 13.7, SD = 2.0 (p > 0,05, ANCOVA)

Ramocha et al., 2017 [22]

(South Africa)

Cross-sectional

Convenience sample

(n = 80, being 40 IE and 40 NIE)

IE = 23 male and 17 females; NIE = 0 male and 40 females

Age: 60 to 90 years

RAND-36 (The higher the scores, the better the QoL)

Scale: 0–100 points

Physical functioning: IE: mean = 74.7, SD = 29.6; NIE: mean = 81.1, SD = 22.9 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)

Role physical: IE: mean = 61.2, SD = 47.3; NIE: mean = 68.1, SD = 44.2 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)

Bodily pain: IE: mean = 66.7, SD = 28.9; NIE: mean = 73.8, SD = 26.4 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)

General Health Perceptions (General Health): IE: mean = 66.1, SD = 20; NIE: mean = 73.0, SD = 18.9 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)

Role Emotional: IE: mean = 59.1, SD = 46.2; NIE: mean = 74.1, SD = 42.3 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)

Vitality (Energy and Fatigue): IE: mean = 66.3, SD = 20.5; NIE: mean = 79.5, SD = 19.1 (p < 0.05, Student’s t test)

Mental Health (Emotional well-being): IE: mean = 73.9, SD = 19.0; NIE: mean = 86.8, SD = 13.1 (p < 0.05, Student’s t test)

Social functioning: IE: mean = 68.9, SD = 21.4; NIE: mean = 77.1, SD = 20.5 (p > 0.05, Student’s t test)