Repercussion of Covid-19 on Health and Nutritional Status of Elderly: Current Scenario

Ageing is an inevitable process with numerous changes in a physiological, biological, cognitive, and social environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented public health crisis globally. Both the problems adversely affect the nutritional and health status of the elderly. Malnutrition, increase risk of chronic morbidities, low socioeconomic status along with social deprivations influence the health and well-being of old age. Lack of physical activity is common due to loss of skeletal muscle mass and an increase of fat mass eventually causes functional inability. The review aimed to report the impact of Covid-19 on the health and nutritional status of the elderly. A thorough recent literature search was conducted using PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases using specific keywords related to the aims. All related articles published on COVID-19 during 2020 and their effect on health and nutrition in the elderly were retrieved. The study found that nutritional status influences mortality and co-morbidities among the elderly during the COVID-19 situation. Furthermore, the study found that though nutritional indicators, that is, overweight or obese, significantly increase the risk of co-morbid conditions among older adults, good nutrition reduces the risk of all-cause mortality. Although ageing is an irreversible process, it is never too late to start practicing a healthy behavioral lifestyle for achieving healthy ageing.

Nutritional status of the elderly.

Elderly become vulnerable to malnutrition owing to inappropriate dietary intake, poor economic status and social deprivation. Elderly are known to be easily subjected to inanition and avitaminosis resulting in multiple nutritional deficiencies. Urban slum dwellers, rural poor and those living alone appear to be at a higher risk of poor dietary intake. Though food consumption patterns of rural and urban elderly show a distinct difference, these are greatly influenced by regional dietary patterns. The diets of institutionalised and free living elderly reveal adequate nutrient intakes except iron and vitamin A. The nutrients least adequately supplied in the diets of Indian elderly are calcium, Iron, vitamin A, riboflavin and niacin along with energy deficits. Changes in body composition which mark the onset of the ageing process, include decline in lean body mass and increase in adipose tissue. A high prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia has also been reported among Indian elderly.