Assessment of nutritional status of community-dwelling older adults in rural North India using mini nutritional assessment-short form

Abstract

Objective: challenges of geriatric populace are plentiful and vexing, malnutrition being a critical issue. We studied the burden of malnutrition and determined its association with socio-demographic factors, depression, and other health variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 162 community-dwelling older adults to screen for malnutrition using mini nutritional assessment short-form (MNA-SF). Pearson's Chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance, correlation, and Multinominal logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: Four-point nine percent older adults were malnourished and 42.6% were at risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition was higher in 60–69 years of age group (5.95%) and females (6.9%), while risk of malnutrition was high among >80 years (59.1%) and widowed (66.7%). Weight loss, decrease in food intake, dementia, stress, decreased mobility, and depression were significantly associated with malnutrition. Geriatric Depression and MNA-SF scores showed a significant negative correlation (r = −0.434). Comparison of means of MNA-SF and geriatric depression scale scores among well-nourished, at risk, and malnourished subjects showed significant difference (P < 0.001). Multinominal regression revealed that it is highly likely (P < 0.01) that the subjects were malnourished if they had body mass index <19 kg/m2, reported weight loss >3 kg or suffered from acute disease or stress in the past 3 months while the likelihood of being “at risk” increased significantly only if subjects had acute disease or stress in preceding 3 months. Conclusions: Screening with MNA-SF can help identify at low cost a sizable proportion of elderly who are malnourished and “at risk.” Timely intervention can be instrumental in preventing the progression of infirmity and reducing its catastrophic consequences.