El Kady, H., Tayel, D. (2011). Nutritional Assessment of Institutionalized and Free-living Elderly in Alexandria: A Comparative Study. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 41(1), 159-174. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2011.20151
Heba El Kady; Dalia Tayel. "Nutritional Assessment of Institutionalized and Free-living Elderly in Alexandria: A Comparative Study". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 41, 1, 2011, 159-174. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2011.20151
El Kady, H., Tayel, D. (2011). 'Nutritional Assessment of Institutionalized and Free-living Elderly in Alexandria: A Comparative Study', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 41(1), pp. 159-174. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2011.20151
El Kady, H., Tayel, D. Nutritional Assessment of Institutionalized and Free-living Elderly in Alexandria: A Comparative Study. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 2011; 41(1): 159-174. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2011.20151
Nutritional Assessment of Institutionalized and Free-living Elderly in Alexandria: A Comparative Study
1Department of Family Health (Geriatric Health), High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
2Department of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Abstract
Background: Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) can identify malnourished elderly people and those at risk of malnutrition in short time and can guide optimal early nutritional intervention. Objective: To compare the nutritional status of institutionalized and free-living elderly in Alexandria. Methods: A cross-sectional study included fifty institutionalized elderly from two governmental elderly homes in Alexandria and fifty four free-living elderly from the community randomly selected . Data about socio-demographic characteristics, medical history and dietary habits were collected and nutritional assessment was carried out using dietary intake method, anthropometric measurements and the MNA tool. Results: Based on body mass index (BMI) estimates, obesity and being at risk of overweight were prevalent among 32% and 18% of institutionalized elderly respectively; among 7.4% and 33.3%, of free-living ones respectively. Using MNA, malnutrition and being at risk of malnutrition were 12% and 40%, respectively among institutionalized elderly; 9.3% and 29.6%, respectively among free-living ones. Calcium and vitamins A and C intake were less than the requirements. Conclusion: Malnutrition and being at risk of it were prevalent among the elders in the two studied settings