Estado nutricional y nivel socioeconómico en adultos mayores de la Provincia del Azuay, 2019

Abstract

Background: older adults suffer many anatomical, functional, and hormonal changes due to aging and socioeconomic inequality increases the risk of malnutrition. General objective: to determine the association between nutritional condition and socioeconomic status among older adults in Azuay province, 2019. Methodology: a cross-sectional descriptive study in 400 older adults of 65 years or above was made in Azuay province. Moreover, anthropometric measurements were made and the INEC survey about socioeconomic stratification was applied besides the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). The results were analyzed in SPSS 15.0 applying frequencies, and average and standard deviation. Odss Ratio was used for association with 95% confidence interval and for statistical significance with its p-value. Results: according to body mass index (BMI) it was found 59% of malnutrition and 30, 8% of overweight. The majority of older adults suffering malnutrition have a socioeconomic level of 42, 9% and 36, 11%. Nutritional status of thinness is associated to an age range between 65 and 74 years (OR 7,710) (IC95% 1,691 – 35,147). There is a significant relation between obesity, low socioeconomic level and high level of education (OR 3,813) (IC95% 1,119-12,994) and non-handwork job (OR 3,048) (IC95% 1,268-7,326). Conclusion: the majority of the population suffers malnutrition and prevalence of overweight. A statistic association between low socioeconomic level and thinness, and obesity, high level of education and non-handwork job were found.