OBJECTIVE:The nutritional status of frail elderly people receiving home health services should be evaluated. This study aimed to determine the nutritional status of patients aged ≥65 years registered in the Home Healthcare Services unit and investigate the factors that may be associated with malnutrition. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted during routine visits to patients and their caregivers. A total of 161 patients were asked to fill in surveys asking about sociodemographic characteristics, patient history, and clinical status. Anthropometric measurements were taken from all patients. The Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form was applied to the patients for screening purposes. Patients who scored ≤11 on the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form were then asked to complete the full Mini Nutritional Assessment form. RESULTS: According to the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form and Mini Nutritional Assessment tests, almost half of the elderly patients included in the study (49.7%, n=161) were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Analyses showed that those who had COVID-19 [odds ratio (OR): 9.423, 95%CI 2.448-36.273) and those diagnosed with dementia/depression (OR: 8.688, 95%CI 3.246-23.255) were more likely to be malnourished, whereas those with diabetes (OR: 0.235, 95%CI 0.084-0.657) were less likely to have malnutrition. Strikingly, those who were fed by caregivers (OR: 15.061, 95%CI 3.617-62.710) were also more likely to be malnourished than those with self-feeding ability. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition or the risk of malnutrition is common in elderly patients receiving home care services. Many factors can have an impact on malnutrition.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.