[Nutritional characterization by anthropometrics of institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly Venezuelan].
In order to evaluate nutritional status by anthropometry, a group of elderly (60 to 83 years old) was studied: 63 institutionalized and 37 non-institutionalized elderly from Valencia city, Venezuela. Weight, height, triceps skinfold and mid-arm circumference were measured and the body mass index (weight/height2) was calculated. The average age for the institutionalized group was 77.3 +/- 7.5 years old and 69.5 +/- 7.6 years old for the free-living elderly group. Tricipital skinfold (TSF) and mid-arm circumference (MAC) means were within the normal reference range for both groups, without significant differences by sex. Body mass index (BMI) was higher in the institutionalized group. Lower BMI and MAC were found in older elderly (> or =80 y). According to the nutritional classification by BMI, 16% of nutritional deficit, 45% of normal status and 39.7% with of excess weight were found in institutionalized elderly; while in free-living elderly, prevalences were 8%, 62% and 29.7% respectively. Even though normal nutritional status was highly prevalent, institutionalized elderly showed higher prevalences of nutritional alterations (underweight and overweight).
Centro de Investigaciones en Nutrición Dr. Eleazar Lara Pantin, Hospital Universitario Dr. Angel Larralde, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Bárbula, Universidad de Carabobo, Valencia, Venezuela. ndiazw@uc.edu.ve
Nayka
N
Díaz
Lesbia
L
Meertens
Liseti
L
Solano
Evelyn
E
Peña
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology