Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
[Frailty in the elderly and nutritional status according to the Mini Nutritional Assessment]
Nadia Belén Guerrero-García1, Zoila Margarita Gómez-Lomelí, David Leal-Mora
1Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. nbelen_190@hotmail.com.
Background:
The aging process involves psychosocial and physiological changes, which modify the nutritional status in the elderly. The objective was to assess the nutritional status of a group of elderly patients using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and the Fried frailty index, as well as the relation between both.
Methods:
From June to July, 2013, we carried out a cross-sectional study with consecutive sampling of 146 patients of both sexes, from the Hospital Civil "Fray Antonio Alcalde", in Guadalajara, México. We applied the MNA and the Fried frailty index.
Results:
The mean age was 81.7 years (±7.65). One hundred and six patients (72.6%) were females, and 40 were males (27.4%). Basic anthropometric data showed that the mean weight was 57.67 kg (±13.7), with a mean of 1.52 (±0.09) meters in size; body mass index was 24.85 (±5.32) kg/m2. The results showed that 14.1% of patients with a normal nutritional status suffered from frailty, while 42.1% had risk of malnutrition and frailty.
Conclusion:
Frailty in the elderly is still present even if they have a normal nutritional status; when the nutritional status decreases, there is a higher prevalence of frailty in this age group.
Related Concept Videos
Development of Human Microbiota
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...

