Assessment of Nutritional status and Malnutrition Problems among Elderly: An Egyptian Experience

Muhammed Abdelhay, Shaimaa Muhammed; Ragab, Hosnia Mohamed; Hassan Hussein, Yasmin Husseiny

doi:10.21608/zumj.2024.264972.3130

Assessment of Nutritional status and Malnutrition Problems among Elderly: An Egyptian Experience

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Zagazig University, Egypt.

² Department of public Health and Community medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

³ Department of Family Medicine , faculty of medicine, Zagazig University

10.21608/zumj.2024.264972.3130

Abstract

Background: It is well established that the elderly has a greater risk of malnutrition. social, physical, & mental aspects all come together to form the multidisciplinary concept of malnutrition in the elderly. In this research, we set out to assess the nutritional condition & to identify the frequency and risk factors for malnutrition between elderly individuals living in nursing homes in addition to those living in the community in Zagazig City, Sharkia Governorate.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional research was performed on 222 cases, 111 cases in each group. Elderly residents of nursing homes and elderly persons attending geriatric clubs in Zagazig City to represent the nursing home living group and the community living group, respectively from the first of October 2022 to the end of April 2023.

. Anthropometric measures & information gathered from the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scale were utilized to assess the condition of nutrition.

Results: The mean score of MNA was statistically higher among the elderly in the community than elderly in nursing homes (24.76± 3.27 and 17.2±5.25), respectively. The frequency of malnutrition was significantly more prevalent among nursing home living elderly (43.2%) versus zero percent among community living elderly, and the risk of malnourishment was significantly associated with advancement in age among both groups.

Conclusion: Malnutrition is a greater risk for the elderly. The study’s findings highlight the critical value of nutritional screening among elderly people. Counseling families and staff in nursing homes about the appropriate nutritional care of the elderly is advised.

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