title: Nutritional assessment of institutionalized elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the nutritional profile of institutionalized elderly individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative correlation and quantitative field study conducted in a Long-Stay Institution in Sao Paulo (SP), Brazil, between December 2010 and January 2012. To define nutritional diagnosis, data were collected from patient files, such as body mass index, circumferences, triceps skinfold, muscle area of the arm, thickness of the adductor pollicis, handgrip strength, and biochemical test results. The anthropometric variables were presented as mean, standard deviation, and percentages, and were grouped by gender and stratified by age. The level of statistical significance was p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and two elderly individuals were selected, and 84 were females. Excess weight was the most common anthropometric diagnosis in men (n=11; 61%), with the detection of protein depletion in those aged 70 years, and possible cases of sarcopenic obesity. All women were in good health conditions (n=84; 100%). However, in 27% (n=23) of them, protein depletion was evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More anthropometric studies are necessary which would allow a definition of local reference standards, stratified by gender and age group. The difference between populations and factors, such as inclusion and exclusion criteria, and methodological characteristics, limit the use of international standards, interfering in the reliability of the nutritional diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário São Camilo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Milena Maffei
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Volpini
authors.forename: Vera Silvia
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Frangella
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins