Prevalencia y factores asociados a malnutrición en adultos mayores del cantón Gualaceo, 2016

Abstract

Introduction: malnutrition in the elderly is a major concern worldwide. It is a public health problem and it is associated with a number of factors, some of them are modifiable. Objective: to determine the prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition in older adults in Gualaceo town, 2016. Methodology: an analytical cross-sectional study. Sampling was probabilistic, stratified and randomized, which assessed 250 elderly. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Data were tabulated in SPSS version 20.0. Characterization of the population was performed through descriptive statistics and central trend measures, statistical association was measured with prevalence ratio (RP), 95% confidence interval (IC) and values of p <0.05 were considered statistically significant. In addition, a multivariate analysis was performed. Results: the prevalence of malnutrition was 20,4%. The average age 76,31 (± 8,19). The associated factors were: depression RP 4,90 (95% CI: 3,08 – 7,79, p< 0,000); sedentary lifestyle RP 4,52 (95% CI: 2,81 – 7,28, p <0,000); low socioeconomic level RP 4,04 (95% CI: 1,51 – 10,7, p<0,001); anemia for both men and women RP 2,43 (95% CI: 1,23 – 4,77, p<0,018) and RP 4,02 (95% CI: 2,17 – 7,63, p<0,000) respectively and hypoalbuminemia RP 2,87 (95% CI: 1,08 – 4,58, p<, 0,000). Multivariate analysis corroborated this association except for hypoalbuminemia. Conclusions: the prevalence of malnutrition was 20,4% and it is associated to: depression, sedentary lifestyle, low socioeconomic status, anemia and hypoalbuminemia