Nutritional Assessment in Elderly Homes in Cairo

Abstract

Elderly in nursing homes are considered to be at high risk of malnutrition. Apart from its relevance for morbidity and mortality, malnutrition is associated with worsening quality of life. Our study is across sectional study. Sampling was done through a stratified random sampling from public and private nursing homes in Cairo, EGYPT, Seven nursing homes were selected and 200 elderly female residents were chosen as the study population to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among elderly females in the nursing homes. The study population were subjected to history taking, general examination and geriatric assessment. Anthropometric measures like triceps skin fold (TSF), mid arm circumference (MAC), mid arm muscle circumference (MUAC)were used to work hand in hand with MNA in the assessment of nutritional status. It was difficult to use BMI as a large portion of the study population suffered from immobilization, dependency or assistance in standing. Among The 200 participants, 28(14%) of them were malnourished, 94 (47%) were at risk of malnutrition and 78