Objective To analyze the correlation between emotional disorders and body nutrition and quality of life in the elderly after acute stroke. Methods A total of 160 elderly patients with acute stroke in subacute stage were included in the Second Affiliated Hosoital of Xi′an Jiaotong University from March 2021 to June 2023. The Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), mini nutritional assessment (MNA), and MOS 36-item short-form health survey scale (SF-36) were used to evaluate anxiety, depression, nutritional status and quality of life respectively. The relationship between post-stroke comorbid anxiety and depression (PSCAD) and objective indicators of nutritional status, MNA and SF-36 was analyzed. SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis. Data comparison between two groups was perfomed using t test, Rank sum test or χ² test, depending on data type. Results The 160 patients scored (15.57±3.67) points on HAMA and (13.54±4.23) points on HAMD, and 56 were classified as having PSCAD. Body mass index, upper arm muscle mass circumference, prealbumin and NMA score in the PSCAD group were lower than those in the non-PSCAD group (P<0.05). The difference between the two groups in NMA grading was statistically significant (P<0.05). The PSCAD group scored lower in physical strength, physical pain, general health, vitality, social function, emotional function, and mental health of SF-36 scale than the non-PSCAD group (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that HAMA and HAMD were negatively correlated with NMA, physical strength, physical pain, general health, vitality, social function, emotional function, and mental health (P<0.05). Conclusion The nutritional status and quality of life of the elderly patients with acute stroke and PSCAD are significantly affected in multiple dimensions. Anxiety and depression are closely related to nutritional status and quality of life.