A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF ELDERLY POPULATION IN A RURALAREA OF WEST BENGAL USING MNA SCREENING TOOL.

Abstract

Malnutrition, or under nutrition, is a frequent and often unrecognized problem in older adults. It can result in immune dysfunction; poor wound healing, anaemia, longer hospitalization and higher readmission rates, delayed recovery from surgery and a higher rate of mortality. Current statistics for the elderly in India gives a prelude to a new set of medical, social, and economic problems that could arise if a timely initiative in this direction is not taken by the program managers and policy makers. A community based observational, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the elderly people residing at Banspole sub-centre area to nd out their nutritional status. Geriatric people who were the permanent resident of the study area for at least six months were included in the study. A proforma was used to collect the baseline information of the study subjects and details of factors inuencing nutrition status. Mini nutritional assessment (MNA) tool was used to assess nutritional status of 2 elderly. 300 elderly patients were included in this study with an average age of 77.29 ± 6.97 years and BMI of 23.67 ± 3.49 kg/m . Age, literacy and nancial status were found to be signicantly associated with malnutrition. Geriatric nutritional assessment should be integrated into a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Regular assessment of the nutritional status among elderly followed by early interventions will improve the health outcomes, prevents the onset of disability, improves quality of life and saves healthcare costs.