Nutritional Status and Non-Dietary related Factors in Elderly people in Yasuj

Background and Objectives: Malnutrition in the elderly is associated with several factors, including psychological and physiological factors that increase the risk of chronic disease, disability and mortality in this population group. According to the importance of nutritional status in aging and lack of studies about the comparison of nutritional status of home care and nursing house care, this paper aims to evaluate and compare the nutritional status in two elderly groups and Non-dietary factors in relation to nutritional status in these groups in Yasuj. Materials and Methods: According to the limited number of nursing home of Yasuj, this descriptive analysis study was concluded in one women and one men elderly house, 50 over sixty years old elderly were chosen randomly among them. For choosing the home care samples, 50 family with over sixty years old member were selected referring to the family files in healthcare clinics and synchronizing their demographic characteristics with elderly house samples. Their nutritional status were evaluated by mini nutritional assessment (MNA) which was standardized for Iranian elderlies. To calculate the mean difference and correlation coefficient, t-test with one sample, two samples and Chi-square test are used, respectively. Results: According to the MNA, 30% and 50% of home care elderlies and nursing homes members were affected by malnutrition, respectively. The malnutrition index for people who inhabited in home care and elderly care places were 16.47,CI (15.42,17.52) and 18.84,CI (17.01,20.66) respectively. And the difference between two groups are 2.37, CI (0.37, 4.35) which is statistically significant (P-value = 0.02). In examining of the Non-dietary factors in relation to nutritional status of the elderly, significant relationship were observed between nutritional status and neuropsychiatric disorders, depression, food intake (due to poor appetite and dental disorders) and the ability to move. Conclusions: According to the high prevalence of malnutrition in the elderly and the more vulnerable of elderly in a nursing home, It is suggested appropriate planning interventions to improve quality of life and the nutritional status of the elderly.

Keywords:

Elderly , Malnutrition , Nursing homes , MNA , Nutritional status