Do our elderly have an adequate nutritional status?.

Eugenia Méndez Estévez, Juana Romero Pita, Ma José Fernández Domínguez, Patricia Troitiño Álvarez, Silvia García Dopazo, Milagros Jardón Blanco, Manuela Rey Charlo, María Isabel Rivero Cotilla, Cristina Rodríguez Fernández, Martín Menéndez Rodríguez

Determine the prevalence of malnutrition in valid adults older than 75 years old in Xinzo (Spain), and study institutionalization as a possible risk factor of malnutrition. This is a cross-sectional study of prevalence. 311 people over 75 years. Age, gender, marital status, education level, institutionalization or not, nutritional status (MNA and anthropometric parameters), social support (Duke- Unc scale), Quality of life (Euro- Quol scale); associated diseases, swallowing problems, type of diet and medications. The median age was 82.55 years (SD: 4.83), 51.8% were women. The 52.7% were married, regarding the educational level, 76.8% had completed the primary education. The 17.4% were institutionalized. The median of pathologies was 3 (SD:1.42 and the number of drugs for individual was 4 (SD:2.44). The 54.70% lived with another family or partner. The median of quality of life was 6.84. According to the results of the MNA did not find any case of malnutrition, but a 20.3% of patients present values of risk. Multivariate analysis found relationship between the presence or not of malnutrition and the institutionalization OR = 0.403 (95% CI: 0.186-0.872), the number of pathologies OR = 1.301 (95% CI: 1.032-1.641), quality of life OR = 1.401 (95% CI: 1.145-1.716). Our valid elders are well nourished. The age, a good quality of life and a good support are protective factors. The risk of malnutrition is associated to a higher age, to institutionalization and to higher number of pathologies.