Nutritional status assessment of institutionalized elderly in Prague, Czech Republic

There are few studies in the Czech Republic describing and evaluating the nutritional status of institutionalized elderly.

Data were collected from 659 women and 156 men aged 65 years and older and living in retirement homes in and around Prague. Data included: a Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA questionnaire), anthropometric measurements and biochemical evaluations.

According to the MNA questionnaire, 10.2% of these elderly individuals were malnourished and 39.4% were at risk of malnutrition. More women than men were malnourished (OR = 0.59 and 95% CI 0.42-0.86). Mean BMI values were 25.5 for females and 27.5 for males. MNA was positively correlated mostly with immobility (r = 0.63; p < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.57; p < 0.001) and mid-arm circumference (r = 0.56; p < 0.001). Serum albumin levels were <28 g/l in 1.3% (1.3% of the women and 1.36% of the men) and between 29.0 - 34.0 g/l in 21% (22.5% of the women and 14.4% of the men). Statistically significant differences between groups according to MNA scores were found for albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and creatinine. Prevalence of smoking was significantly higher among males.

The study results confirmed that institutionalized elderly, especially women, should be considered a nutritionally vulnerable population group that needs attention.