Avaliação do risco nutricional em idosos institucionalizados numa Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social do concelho de Vila Real, Portugal = Nutritional risk assessment in institutionalized elderly in a Private Social Solidarity Institution, in Vila Real, Portugal

Abstract

Malnutrition in the elderly is not only common but often overlooked which can result in multiple medical complications, hospital admissions and even death. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional risk in institutionalized elderly in a Private Institution of Social Solidarity in the municipality of Vila Real. Material and Methods: The sample consists of 55 elderly people, aged between 65 and 101 years (84.69 +/- 8.303 years). Twenty are male and thirty-five are female. The prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition was obtained through anthropometric measurements, weight and height to calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI), arm circumference, geminal circumference and waist circumference and applying the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scale. Results: Men had greater weight and height than women (p<0.05). BMI assessments showed no statistically significant difference between the sexes. Of the elderly evaluated, 18.1% were malnourished, 45.5% at risk of malnutrition. Correlating the scores obtained in the MNA with the classic malnutrition factor BMI and waist circumference, we found a significant negative correlation (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The risk of malnutrition was high among the elderly in the sample, with 63.6% of the sample showing signs of malnutrition or risk of malnutrition. The MNA proved to be a useful tool in diagnosing the risk of malnutrition. It is extremely important that institutions are prepared to carry out an early diagnosis of nutritional status in order to allow adequate intervention and nutritional monitoring.