Avaliação nutricional de idosos: desafios da atualidade

Abstract

The majority of the public health problems in Brazil are related to nutritional status. Population aging is a reality and presents great challenges, especially for the health sector. Since nutrition plays a role in modulating the aging process, in the etiology of diseases and in the functional declines associated with aging, evaluation and nutritional monitoring of the elderly are necessary for proper care and planning of health promotion strategies. In this context, the present study aimed to reflect on the monitoring methods and proposed indicators of nutritional assessment of the elderly. It presents a summary of Ministry of Health recommendations which guide the care and nutritional assessment provided to the elderly by the National Health Service (SUS). The recommended procedures for the diagnosis and monitoring of the nutritional status of the elderly, though suggesting an increasing importance of monitoring food consumption indicators, end up emphasizing the use of anthropometric measures, especially the body mass index. The incorporation of other indicators in monitoring the elderly demonstrates progress in the recognition of the fundamental issues that need to be incorporated into professional practice and routine primary care. However, these indicators must be used by the professional as part of a critical, team-based approach, it being understood that no single indicator will meet the needs of all the elements of nutritional assessment, especially when it comes to the elderly.

Conhecendo a Saúde Nutricional De Idosos Atendidos Em Uma Organização Não Governamental, Benevides/Pa

“…Seria importante um consumo diário maior para obtenção de todos esses benefícios, especialmente aquelas verduras e frutas fortemente coloridas, frescas, sendo ricas em vitaminas, minerais e fibras (TAVARES et al, 2015;MALTA;PAPINI;CORRENTE, 2013). Sobre as proteínas, o consumo diário de leite foi relatado por 81% dos idosos, seguido do feijão por 42%.…”

Older adults undergoing home enteral nutrition therapy: integration of national public policy and municipal programs

“…After nutritional screening, the nutritional assessment of older adults can be performed. Tavares et al 27 highlighted the challenges for diagnosing and monitoring the nutritional status of people over 60 in PC. The procedures performed are those recommended by the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System, which emphasize the use of anthropometric measures.…”

Validation, reliability and operational equivalency of the nutritional screening method “Determine The Nutritional Health Of The Elderly”

“…Based on the considerations presented, it can be affirmed that the nutritional screening method "Determine The Nutritional Health Of The Elderly" is not a method of clinically diagnosing malnutrition in the elderly, nor is it intended to replace comprehensive assessments of nutritional status as recommended in other nutritional screening methods 23,29 . Nevertheless, it can predict the general state of health and nutrition, identifying those who may or may not be at moderate to high nutritional risk 22,23 .…”

“…Nevertheless, it can predict the general state of health and nutrition, identifying those who may or may not be at moderate to high nutritional risk 22,23 . This method was originally conceived as an educational alternative designed to alert elderly persons or those responsible for them to the health problems related to the presence of nutritional risk 29 . In clinical practice it can be used as a preliminary method to track or identify individuals at nutritional risk and to subsequently direct them to a more complete and detailed nutritional assessment [22][23][24]29 .…”