[Nutritional risk in no-institutionalized older, determined for the mini nutritional assessment (MNA)]

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of the risk of undernutrition by evaluating the nutritional status in a representative sample of older people in Ourense. The total sample was 728 subjects (63.6% woman and 36.4% men) with a mean age of 80.7 +/- 7.4 years old. Anthropometric parameters (weight, distance heel-knee, calf circumference and mid-arm circumference) were determined and the MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment) was applied and 70% of individuals with nutritional problems were identified (57.5% with nutritional risk and 12.5% malnourished). The subjects aged between 65 and 70 years old, 81 and over, and females presented higher nutritional problems. The items that were observed most frequently in the studied population and therefore responsible for this nutritional situation were the involuntary loss of weight, consumption of at least one serving of protein per day, low daily liquid intakes, loss of appetite, taking more than 3 prescription drugs per day and to have a limited mobility.