Determinants of nutritional status among old age population in eastern Ethiopia: a general linear model approach

Abstract

As the world's aging population grows, nutrition and health issues are becoming a major concern. The aim of the present study was to identify the factors associated with nutritional status among old age population. A community-based cross-sectional study was employed among randomly selected 739 elders over the age of 60 in Dire Dawa City administration, eastern Ethiopia. The validated full mini nutritional assessment tool and appetite test (SNAQ) was used to assess the nutritional status of the study population. Considering the ranked nature of the data, a bivariate and multivariable ordinal logistic regression model (under the generalised linear model) was conducted, with crude and adjusted odds ratios reported along with 95 % confidence intervals. Statistically significant associations are declared at P-value less than 0⋅05. In this study, 22 % (95 % CI: 19 %, 25 %) of elders were malnourished. Participants with >75 years old (AOR 4⋅95; 95 % CI 1⋅54, 8⋅4), being female (AOR 1⋅6; 95 % CI 1⋅1, 2⋅2), illiterate (AOR 1⋅5; 95 % CI 1⋅01, 2⋅2), severe depression (AOR 13⋅9; 95 % CI 8⋅2, 23⋅7) and with poor appetite (AOR 3⋅3; 95 % CI 2⋅3, 4⋅8) were important predictors of malnutrition among older age group. We found that the prevalence of malnutrition and the risk of malnutrition is a public health concern that warrants intervention in the area. Advanced age, illiteracy, depression and poor appetite were important risk factors for malnutrition among older age group. The identified risk factors will guide public health professionals and programmes in the design, implementation of interventions to improve the nutritional status of older age group.

Nutritional status of hospitalized elderly patients in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study of an important yet neglected problem in clinical practice

“…The shortened self-report form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) which comprised 15 items, was used to objectively assess the psychological condition of older patients on admission (52). Each question in GDS has two alternative responses, either yes or no, and the patients are categorized as having no psychological problem (0-4), mild depression/dementia (5-9), or severe depression/dementia (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). The outcome of this study is the nutritional status of older patients on admission to medical wards based on the full MNA tool score.…”

“…In this age group, low education, older age, anorexia of aging, multimorbidity, cognitive decline, polypharmacy, age-related functional decline, frailty, hospitalization, financial constraints, and empty nest syndrome are among the contributing factors to malnutrition ( 9 , 11 , 12 ). Furthermore, previously available studies mentioned factors such as sex ( 13 , 14 ), age ( 13–15 ), rural residency ( 11 ), no formal education ( 11 , 13 , 14 ), low economic status ( 14 , 15 ), functional impairment ( 11 , 16 , 17 ), smoking ( 18 ), having depression ( 11 , 13–15 ), hospitalization history, alcohol consumption ( 14 ), and occupations ( 15 ) as malnutrition associated factors.…”

“…The occurrence of malnutrition results in deranged physiology and poor clinical outcomes. It affects the quality of life, increases the incidence of infection, causes sarcopenia, results in poor hospital outcomes, and increases the risk of life-threatening complications and mortality ( 9 , 13 , 15 , 19 , 20 ). As a result, malnutrition screen-and-treat policies are recommended in the hospital setting ( 21 ).…”

Correlates of Undernutrition in Older People in Guadeloupe (French West Indies): Results from the KASADS Study

“…It is known to be associated with various clinical conditions such as low body mass index (BMI), infection, cancer, diabetes, renal function, acute kidney injury, pulmonary disease, gastrointestinal disorders, depression, cognitive or functional disorders, and comorbidities and polypharmacy [3]. Undernutrition is also associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes, including infection, impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), falls, longer length of stay when hospitalized, bedsores, and mortality [4,5]. The prevalence of undernutrition rises with increasing age [6], and in France, it ranges from 6.4% in rural areas to 18.5% in urban zones [4].…”

Assessment of Nutritional Status of Urban Elderly Women in Midnapore Town, Paschim Medinipur, India

“…Malnutrition among the old age population is multi-factorial. Besides lack of nutritional intake, several social and behavioral factors like age, economic dependence, depression, DOI: 10.34256/ijk2313 and loss of appetite are important factors of malnutrition (Derbie et al,2022). Nutritional risk impacts the quality of life of the individual.…”