Screening for malnutrition in elderly people hospitalized in the university hospital of Sidi-Bel-Abbes (western Algeria)

Abstract

The aim of this work is to evaluate the nutritional status of a population of elderly patients hospitalized in the gastroenterology service of the University Hospital of Sidi-Bel-Abbes.Patients and methods. This is a descriptive and prospective study has been included in our work 50 patients aged 65 years and older. The evaluation is based on the anthropometric (body weight, height, BMI), biochemical (serum albumin) parameters and the score of screening Mini Nutritional Assessment screening (MNAâ). The study population included 50 elderly subjects (27 women and 23 men). The average age was 77.96 ± 7.55 year. 100% live with family, the average length of stay in the hospital was 7.50 ± 3.09 days with a mean drug intake was 3.64 ± 1.65 drugs the most common disease is hypertension (55, 22%). The average BMI was 20.32 ± 3.85 kg/m2 and the average albumin rate was 32.02 ± 7.47 g/L. BMI and serum albumin revealed respectively 62%, and 68% of malnourished elderly. The score of screening MNAâ showed that 20% of patients are at risk of malnutrition and 80% were malnourished. The prevalence of malnutrition is very important and emphasizes the need for care of this age group especially in the gastroenterology departments.