To ascertain whether admission to a geriatric day hospital (GDH) modifies health self-perception and quality-of-life (QOL) dimensions using the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) instrument, and to evaluate possible sex differences in these health dimensions.

Longitudinal study including all patients admitted to and discharged from GDH. Evaluated parameters at admission and discharge were: Barthel and Lawton indexes, Folstein's Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Charlson index, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Timed Up&Go test, Tinetti walking test and NHP.

One hundred and ten of a total of 183 patients were included in the study (21 were excluded for different reasons and NHP was not registered at the time of discharge in 52); Barthel index, MMSE, GDS, Timed Up&Go and Tinetti walking test all improved significantly after the GDH intervention. A significant improvement was found in NHP scores (admission: 36.3±22.7 vs. discharge: 31.3±20.8, P=0.044), physical mobility (49.5±31.1 vs. 39.8±28.5, P=0.002) and emotional dimensions (36.4±29.1 vs. 29.4±25.7, P=0.042). Among women, NHP analysis revealed an improvement in physical mobility (48.7±32.9 vs. 37.2±27.1, P=0.008) and emotional dimensions (44.5±29.8 vs. 33.3±2.58, P=0.02), while only an improvement in pain dimension was observed (25.7±23.7 vs. 16.7±18.8, P=0.03) among men.

Global health perception and QOL improved after admission to a GDH, particularly physical mobility and emotional dimensions. Women improved in physical mobility and emotion whereas men only improved in pain perception.