Assessment of nutritional risk in community-dwelling older adults (65 to 75 years) in Kolkata, India.
This study was conducted to profile nutritional risk factors in a population of community-dwelling older adults in Kolkata, India. We applied the short version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) questionnaire among 500 participants (65 to 75 years)--263 males and 237 females. The prevalence of undernutrition was 8.8% in females and 4.9% in males; a risk of undernutrition was found in 24.5% females and 17.5% males. All those with undernutrition or at-risk were studied further using the full version of the MNA. Data regarding education, occupation, socioeconomic status, and food intake pattern were also collected. Females had a significantly lower (P < 0.01) education level than males; 73.4% males were financially independent, whereas 72.7% females were financially dependent on others. Moderate appetite loss was commonly found (64.9%), and in 24.3% of the participants appetite loss was severe. Digestive and chewing problems were present in 32.4% and 21.6% of study participants, respectively. The rate of psychological stress and/or acute disease 3 months prior to study was 47%, and 62.2% of the study population were taking 3 or more medicines per day. Weight loss of greater than 3 kg and of 1 to 3 kg during past 3 months of the study period was observed in 27% and 32.5% of the population, respectively. Undernourished individuals were also found to consume fewer protein-rich foods. We hypothesize that low education levels and lack of financial independence were the strongest underlying causes of high undernutrition in this population, particularly, among females.
a Zoom Health Care , Kolkata , India.
Mondrita
M
Majumder
Indranil
I
Saha
Debnath
D
Chaudhuri
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001069:Appetite Regulation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
India; Kolkata; Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA); community-dwelling older adults; risk of malnutrition; under-nutrition