RESUMO
Background: The global demographic shift presents new challenges regarding health of elderly. Nutrition in elderly affects their immunity and functional ability. Most cases of malnutrition in elderly go under-reported. Hence, this study was conducted to study malnutrition in elderly using MNA score with the aim to find out the prevalence of malnutrition in elderly and study its associated factors in an urban slum in the field practice area of parent medical college.Methods: Study was conducted in 120 elderly (>60 years) study participants. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire consisting of information on lifestyle, somatic, functional, social factors and Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA)questionnaire was administered to assess the nutritional status of the elderly. Descriptive statistical measures like percentage, mean, standard deviations and inferential statistical measure like chi square were calculated.Results: Among 120 elderly study participants, 83 (69.17%) were females, 37 (30.83%) were male and their mean age was 67.21 (±6.27) years. 40 (33.33%) had malnutrition, 65 (54.17%) were at risk of malnutrition and 15 (12.5%) had satisfactory nutrition. Medication use, socio-economic status and marital status showed significant association with malnutrition in elderly.Conclusions: The high prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition in elderly necessitates appropriate preventive and corrective measures like detailed evaluation, regular follow-up and dietary interventions to be undertaken to deal with malnutrition in elderly.
RESUMO
Obesity and abnormal nourishment are the biggest concerns of developed and developing societies. We analysed the nutritional status using Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA) and correlated the findings with BMI, Waist – to – Hip (W/H) ratio in elderly population of Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka. Total of 221 elderly subjects above the age of 50 years (105 were males and 116 were females) were recruited, who did not have any morbid diseases. Their Anthropometric parameters namely BMI and W/H were recorded and tabulated. They were grouped into Underweight, Normal, Over weight and Obese and the respective numbers were segregated and shown in table. MNA scores of each group were found out and the correlation was done. Results were analysed by using ANOVA and Tukey – Kramer test using SPSS version 16. The results suggested that there is a correlation between the BMI, W/H ratio with the MNA scores. Underweight elderly had low scores while overweight and obese subjects had higher scores. Women showed a higher tendency to become over weight and obese compared to men. This study reiterates that there is a correlation between anthropometric parameters and the nutritional status. A wider study with more number of subjects could yield more insight into the findings and be useful guide for suggesting any lifestyle modification.