Tayebeh Mirzaei - Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Geriatric Care Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Ali Ravari - Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Geriatric Care Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Fatemeh Hoseini - Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Geriatric Care Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Zahra Assadollahi - Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Elham Hassanshahi - Geriatric Care Research Center, Rafsanjan university of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

Introduction: Ramadan fasting may affect the quality of life of elderly Muslims and cause some challenges. The present study aimed to assess the effect of Ramadan fasting on the quality of life of elderly Muslims. Methods: This observational-correlational study was conducted throughout the natural intervention of Ramadan fasting in ۲۰۱۶ when the length of daily fasting was about ۱۶ hours. In total, ۱۰۰ individuals aged more than ۶۰ years were selected from the patients referring to the health centers in Rafsanjan, Iran via convenience sampling. Data were collected using the ۱۲-item short-form survey of quality of life (SF-۱۲) at three measurement time points before (T۱), one day after (T۲), and one month after Ramadan (T۳). Data analysis was performed in SPSS version ۱۸ using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the P-value of less than ۰.۰۵ was considered significant. Results: A significant difference was observed in the total score of quality of life between the three measurement time points (T۱: ۴۷.۰۲±۱۴.۱۵, T۲: ۵۰.۷۶±۱۷.۰۶, T۳: ۵۱.۵۳±۱۶.۷۹; P<۰.۰۰۰۱). Conclusion: According to the results, the quality of life of elderly Muslims improved through Ramadan fasting. 

Aged, fasting, Quality of life