STUDY OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF ELDERLY IN DIFFERENT LIVING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH MINI NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT

BY R.Gajalakshmi M.Sc, M.Phil, Vellalar College for Women, Erode-9

INTRODUCTION
Nutritional assessment is crucial in elderly population because progressive undernutrition occurs, often without being diagnosed. Its prevention requires the identification and implementation of optimal nutritional intervention.

OBJECTIVE
To study the nutritional status of the elderly in three living environment i.e., living with family, independently and in old age homes. Correlating dietary pattern and physical activity with there health status.

METHODS
A total number of 225 elderly men and women who were equally divided depending on their THREE different living environment (with Family, Independently & Old age homes) in age group 65-89 years were selected from Chennai city

TOOLS USED

Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Anthropometrics, structured questionnaire to know, The type of living, Dietary pattern, Menu records, Life style i.e., cleanliness, Physical activity, Sound sleep, and Regular medical checkups.

RESULTS
According to MNA 40.4% were malnourished (MNA<17points), 17.8% at risk of malnutrition (17-23points) and 41.8% well nourished (>23.5points).

Weight loss, psychological stress, nutritional status, decline in food intake, self-perceived health status and MAC showed the strongest significant correlations to total MNA score. Regular medical check ups, cleanliness, sound sleep, proper diet showed the strongest significant correlation (p=0.001) to their nutritional status

GENERAL INFORMATION OF SELECTED ELDERLY

General Information Age Group 65-69 70-79 80-89 Educational Status Illiterate High school Higher secondary Graduate Percentage (%) (N=225) 28.5 47.5 24.0 38.7 39.5 18.2 03.6

LIFE STYLE PATTERN OF SELECTED ELDERLY

General Information Regular Medical Checkup Yes No Only on conduction Physical Exercise Daily Alternate Days Weekly Never Percentage (%) (N=225) 13.8 33.3 52.9

24.4 00.5 36.9 38.2

DIETARY PATTERN OF THE SELECTED ELDERLY

Dietary pattern Percentage (%) (N=225)

Type of diet
Food allergy

Vegetarian Non-vegetarian
Yes No

25.8 74.2
08.0 92.0

Food restriction

Yes No

03.1 96.9
60.4 39.6 56.4 43.6

Frequency of meals taken per day Four times More than 4 times Regular meal timings Yes No

RELATIONSHIP B/W PHYSICAL EXERCISES & TYPE OF LIVING AMONG THE SELECTED ELDERLY
Physical exercise Daily Alternate days Weekly Never
** Significant at 1% level

Type of living
With family 17.8 0.4 10.7 5.8 Independent 6.7 14.6 10.6 Orphanage 0.000** 11.6 21.8 Chi - square

RELATIONSHIP B/W MNA & REGULAR MEDICAL CHECK-UPS AMONG THE SELECTED ELDERLY
Mini Nutritional Assessment Regular medical check-ups Only in Chi - square Yes No conditions 02.5 04.4 60.0 40.7 37.5 54.9 0.000**

Risk/Indicatio n of malnutrition
Malnourished

Well nourished

27.7

14.9

57.4

PREVALENCE OF HEALTHY DIETARY & LIFESTYLE HABITS OF ELDERLY IN DIFFERENT LIVING ENVIRONMENT
TYPE OF LIVING Habits With Family (%) 28.9 20.0 30.7 27.6 Independent(%) Old Age Home(%) 11.6 31.3 13.8

Physical Exercise Small Frequent Meals Regular Meal Timing Sound Sleep

21.3 21.0 04.4 21.8

PREVALENCE OF HEALTHY DIETARY & LIFESTYLE HABITS OF ELDERLY IN VARYING NUTRITIONAL STATUS
HABITS
Food Allergy Small Frequent meals Regular Meal Timing Consumption of Milk, Fruits & Vegetables Regularly Regular Medical Checkups RISK / INDICATION OF MALNUTRITION (%) 02.5 25.0 47.5 MALNOURISHED (%) 13.2 34.1 47.3 WELL NOURISHED (%) 05.3 51.1 69.1

30.0 02.5

29.6 04.4

57.4 27.7

Cleanliness Sound sleep

15.0 40.0

02.2 62.6

98.0 73.4

RELATIONSHIP B/W TYPE OF LIVING & NUTRITIONAL STATUS

TYPE OF LIVING With Family (%) 10.0 42.5 47.5 Independent (%) 27.4 28.6 44.0 Old Age Home (%) 52.1 30.9 17.0 0.000** Chi square

Mini Nutritional Assessment Risk/Indication of malnutrition Malnourished Well nourished

MINI NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT & TYPE OF LIVING OF THE SELECTED ELDERLY

Risk/Indication of malnutrition 60 50 40 47.5 42.5 27.4 28.6 10 44 30.9 17 Malnourished Well nourished 52.1

MNA

30 20 10 0 With family

Independent
TYPE OF LIVING

Old age home

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of malnutrition is high in people living in old age homes. Most of the selected elderly had poor appetite, physical activity and dietary pattern modification in these would prevent malnutrition among them. There is a significant relation between dietary habit, physical activity, life style with nutritional status MNA is a useful tool in identification of nutritional status of elderly. Corrective intervention helps to lower mortality, improves quality of life and save health care costs. MNA is easy to use and inexpensive. Modification with physical activity, dietary pattern, and lifestyle will pave way for healthy life.