Malnutrition prevalence in institutionalized elderly people in Valencia Community, Spain

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to know the prevalence of malnutriti on in an institutionalized elderly population according to age and sex. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We studied 615 institutionalized patients, with a mean age (SD) of 79.33 (9.07) years. Anthropometric parameters included weight, height, knee-heel length, tricipital and subescapular skin folds, arm peri meter and fat mass. Biochemical parameters included: total cholesterol, tri glycerides, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, retinol-binding protein, C3 a nd lymphocyte count. RESULTS: Malnutrition prevalence was 26.87% (Cl 95%, 23.15-30.86), 29.08% ( Cl 95%, 22.82-35.97) in men and 25.59% (Cl 95%, 25.01-30.61) in women. Anth ropometric parameters were found to be decreased in all malnourished patien ts. Significant decreases in albumin and retinol-binding protein concentrat ions were observed in some age groups of malnourished patients. We also fou nd a decrease in the total cholesterol level in parallel to an age increase in both sexes, regardless of the nutritional status. Triglyceride levels w ere significantly decreased in both males and females with malnutrition. ye t lower than reported in other CONCLUSIONS: We detected a high prevalence of malnutrition, studies with si milar age groups.