Study of nutritional status in elderly in indian population

Introduction: Nutrition is an important factor contributing to health and functional ability. There is definite evidence that malnutrition is more common in geriatric population but it is underestimated in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Objective: The present study was carried out to assess nutritional status in elderly population aged ≥65 years. Material and Methods: It was a cross sectional study of 500 elderly subjects of age ≥65 years (63% subjects from urban and 37% subjects from rural area). Nutritional status assessment was done by using 18 items (30 points) Mini nutritional assessment (MNA) scale. Results: Present study revealed that 11.6% elderly were malnourished while 46% were at risk of malnutrition and only 42.4% were well nourished. Malnutrition and risk of malnutrition was more common in rural 104 (52.21%) , 47 (25.41%) than urban 126 (40%), 11 (3.49%) respectively. malnutrition according to literacy status as Illiterate, literature, primary, middle, secondary, college and professional was 26.03%, 8.47%, 0%,6.15%, 3.89%, 2.06% and 0% respectively. Prevalence of malnutrition according to financial status, self dependent and depend on others was 6.85% and 17.48% respectively. Prevalence of malnutrition in relation to BMI <19, 19-23, >23kg/m2 was 49 (47.11%), 9 (9.67%), 0 (0%) respectively. Conclusion: Nutritional status declines further as the age advances. Nutritional status of our urban elderly was better than nutritional status of rural elderly. Illiteracy depended on other by financial status and low BMI worsen the nutritional status significantly in elderly, Nutritional evaluation should be a part of clinical assessment of elderly.