Nutritional status of institutionalized elderly Brazilians: a study with the Mini Nutritional Assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the nutritional status of elderly living in nursing homes in the city of Salvador, Brazil and associated factors.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study performed with 359 individuals of both sexes, ages equal or over 60 years old, located in Nursing Homes in the urban area of the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.


RESULTS
Regarding nutritional status according to Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), 66.3% of the evaluated elderly were malnourished and at risk of malnutrition. When comparing sexes, it has been observed that among men the prevalence of this condition (76.6%) was higher than in women (62.4%). It has been observed, as a result of the multivariate analysis, that only the variable functional capacity for Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was statistically significant. There was moderate correlation between MNA and Mini-Mental State Examination (r=0.454; p<0.0001), as well as between MNA and the ADL scale (r=0.569; p<0.0001). There was weak negative correlation between MNA total score and age (r=0.159; p=0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Malnutrition and malnutrition risk were conditions of remarkable importance, with almost two-thirds of the elderly in this situation. ADL functional capacity must be monitored given their close relationship with the nutritional status of the elderly. An interdisciplinary approach in the context of institutionalization is needed due to the association between nutritional status and variables of different dimensions.
Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia.. pricillacilla@gmail.com.
Maria Luiza
ML
Amorim Sena Pereira
Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia.. pricillacilla@gmail.com.
Pricilla
P
de Almeida Moreira
Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Lagarto, Sergipe.. pricillacilla@gmail.com.
Carolina
C
Cunha de Oliveira
Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia.. pricillacilla@gmail.com.
Anna Karla
AK
Carneiro Roriz
Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Bahia. Brazil.. pricillacilla@gmail.com.
Magali
M
Teresópolis Reis Amaral
Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia.. pricillacilla@gmail.com.
Adriana
A
Lima Mello
Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia.. pricillacilla@gmail.com.
Lílian
L
Barbosa Ramos
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk