A cross-sectional study on malnutrition in elderly using mini nutrition assessment scores in an urban slum

Abstract

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.

It’s Time to Invest in Geriatric Nutrition: A Systematic Review

“…Characteristics of included studies: All studies are taken from all over India, 3 from the east [12][13][14] , 4 from the west [15][16][17][18] , 7 from the south [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] , 4 from the north [26][27][28][29] , 1 from central 30 . The study settings were taken as an institution based (old-age homes 13,15 or geriatric clinic 27 or geriatric ward in hospital 29 and community-based cross-sectional studies 7,9,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]23 . While some studies were carried out in the rural area 14,16,[21][22][23]25,28 and some in the urban 17,19,20,24,…”

“…The study settings were taken as an institution based (old-age homes 13,15 or geriatric clinic 27 or geriatric ward in hospital 29 and community-based cross-sectional studies 7,9,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]23 . While some studies were carried out in the rural area 14,16,[21][22][23]25,28 and some in the urban 17,19,20,24,26,29 or suburban area 13 . Some studies also used the 24-hour dietary recall method and were based on an interview during which the person recalled all food consumed in the previous 24 hours.…”

“…Somatic factors-A factor such as more than three prescribed medications daily-are one of the important components of the MNA tool, the studies from South India and an urban slum in Western Maharashtra was able to prove its association with malnutrition individually (p <0.05). 17,19 A study in North India showed 92.8% of the study population were taking >3 prescriptions. 27 In some studies, the presence of comorbidity among the study population was significantly associated with malnutrition.…”

“…IADL/ADL (Activities of Daily living) dependency and malnutrition (p<0.001). 17,19 Social factors-Several studies had shown a strong association between no/low education 12,18,19,21,26,28 , old age 14,18,19,21,22,29 , being unemployed 19,28 or retired 18 and nutritional status. Low socioeconomic status or financial dependency 12,14,[17][18][19][20]26,28 and single living 17,19,20 are statistically associated with malnutrition too.…”

“…17,19 Social factors-Several studies had shown a strong association between no/low education 12,18,19,21,26,28 , old age 14,18,19,21,22,29 , being unemployed 19,28 or retired 18 and nutritional status. Low socioeconomic status or financial dependency 12,14,[17][18][19][20]26,28 and single living 17,19,20 are statistically associated with malnutrition too. A hospital-based study in Uttarakhand found that having a spouse as a caretaker plays a significant role in the optimal nutritional status of the elderly.…”