Abstract:
Objectives: Elderly nursing homes residents are at an increased risk of malnutrition due to a
variety of factors. We aimed at investigating the prevalence of malnutrition and its correlation
with elderly subjects using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on elderly individuals (N=56; female=28)
dwelling in the Sedigh Nursing Home in Khorramabad, Iran, in 2015. Nutritional status was
assessed using MNA, which consisted of anthropometric measurements, global assessment,
dietary questionnaire and subjective assessment.
Results: The participants’ mean age was 74.86 (SD=±11.82) years. The mean MNA-score of
the subjects was 19.46 (SD=±3.23). The prevalence of malnutrition and at risk of malnutrition
were 20% and 70%, respectively. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed between
male and female, age subgroups, marital status, education levels and different cut-off points
of the Body Mass Index (BMI), Mid-Arm Circumferences (MACs) and Calf Circumferences
(CCs) regarding the nutritional status of subjects. Malnutrition and risk of malnutrition were
observed significantly and more frequently in elderly who had weight loss greater than 3 kg,
took more than three prescription drugs per day and had low/moderate protein intake (P<0.05).
The MNA-score was independently associated with age, weight, BMI, MACs, CCs and food
intake during last 3 months (P<0.05).
Discussion: According to high prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition among
the subjects, proper nutritional interventions are required. Longitudinal studies on elderly and
primary prevention by lifestyle interventions according to the culture and habits of the region
are recommended.
Machine summary:
Research Paper: Mini Nutritional Assessment and its Correlation With Elderly Nursing Home Residents in Khorramabad, Iran Mahnaz Mardani1 , Amir Abbasnezhad1 , Maryam Rezapour2 , Sepideh Rostami1, Maryam Bonyadi1, Farzad Ebrahimzadeh3 , Razieh Choghakhori1* 1.
We aimed at investigating the prevalence of malnutrition and its correlation with elderly subjects using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire.
05) was observed between male and female, age subgroups, marital status, education levels and different cut-off points of the Body Mass Index (BMI), Mid-Arm Circumferences (MACs) and Calf Circumferences (CCs) regarding the nutritional status of subjects.
The results of the several studies assessing nu- tritional status among nursing home residents in Iran indicated that malnutrition is a major problem of these subjects, which needs more attention [4].
However, only a few com- munity studies have been conducted in Iran to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition among seniors by us- ing Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA) questionnaire.
Therefore, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition and correlation of nutrition status with related factors among elderly nursing home residents in Khorramabad, Iran.
The MNA questionnaire consisted of anthropometric indicators measurement (weight, height and weight loss), global assessment (lifestyle, medication and mobility), ques- tionnaire regarding dietary intake (number of meals, food and fluid intake and autonomy of feeding) and subjective health status assessment (self-perception of health and nutrition) [11].
4. Discussion We aimed at estimating the prevalence of different lev- els of malnutrition and related independent risk factors according to MNA, among the elderly nursing home residents in Khorramabad, Iran.