The nutritional status of older Rwandan refugees

Abstract

Objective: To assess the nutritional status of older people in an unstable situation. Design: Anthropometric and socioeconomic data were collected cross-sectionally. Body mass index (BMI), arm muscle area (Ah4A) and arm fat area (AFA) were calculated to evaluate nutritional status. For 41 subjects with kyphosis, height was estimated from arm span using sex-specific regression equations from the nonkyphotic group. Setting: The study was carried out in the post-emergency phase in a Rwandan refugee camp in Karagwe district, north-west Tanzania. Subjecb: Measurements were obtained from 413 men and 415 women aged 50-92 years. Results: The prevalence of undernutrition (BMI < 18.5) was 19.5% in men and 13.1% in women and was higher above age 60 years in both sexes: in men the prevalences were 23.2% and 15.0% ( P < 0.05) and in women 15.1% and 10.9% for the older and younger age groups respectively. AMA, which is important in relation to the ability to remain active and independent, was also significantly lower in older age groups. No difference was found in AFA. The proportion with low BMI was much higher in the group with kyphosis. Conclusions: Even in this population of older Rwandans who managed to reach the camp and survive in exile for more than a year, undernutrition does occur and is more prevalent at an advanced age. The higher prevalence of undernutrition in kyphotic people illustrates the importance of including this group in nutritional status assessments.

The association between nutritional status and handgrip strength in older Rwandan refugees

“…Those who were able also worked on local farms and had access to other food. The prevalence of undernutrition (BMI < 18.5 kg=m 2 ) was 19.5% in men and 13.1% in women and was higher above age 60 y in both sexes: in men the prevalences were 23.2 and 15.0% (P < 0.05, w 2 ¼ 4.4) and in women 15.1 and 10.9% for the older and younger age groups, respectively (Pieterse et al, 1998). AMA was also significantly lower in older age groups (P < 0.05 for both sexes).…”

“…Handgrip strength was significantly lower in each older age group (F ¼ 36.0, P < 0.001 for men; F ¼ 28.3, P < 0.001 for women). Other anthropometric characteristics have been presented elsewhere (Pieterse et al, 1998).…”

“…In Bosnia-Herzegovina undernutrition was found to be absent among children whereas the prevalence in older adults was 10 -20% (Vespa & Watson, 1995). Similar figures of undernutrition were found among older Rwandan refugees (Pieterse et al, 1998). The nutritional status of older people has been related to functional ability and strength (Chilima & Ismail, 2001;Manandhar, 1999;Pieterse, 1999).…”

“…For people with visible kyphosis (n ¼ 41), height was estimated from armspan using regression equations developed from non-kyphotic subjects within the sample (Pieterse et al, 1998). People with a BMI greater than 25 kg=m 2 (n ¼ 51) were excluded from all analyses as the relationship between handgrip strength and BMI was not linear in women above BMI 25 kg=m 2 .…”

Anthropometry based prediction of dominant hand grip strength in Indian office going females

“…It is often used as an indicator of overall physical strength hand and forearm muscles performances and as a functional index of nutritional status and physical performance. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Handgrip strength is a physiological variable that is affected by a number of factors including age, gender and body size. Strong correlations between grip strength and various anthropometric traits like weight, height, hand length etc.…”