Screening for malnutrition in an elderly population hospitalized at the University Hospital Center of Sidi-Bel-Abbès (West Algeria)

Abstract

roduction. Undernutrition is a major public health problem and has many consequences for the elderly health. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in an elderly population hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Service of the University Hospital of Sidi Bel Abbes (western Algeria). Population and methods. This was a cross-sectional study, including patients aged 65 years and older. The evaluation was based on the anthropometric parameters (body weight, height, body mass index (BMI)), serum albumin level, and the score of Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) screening. Results. The study included 129 patients, who 49.61% were females. The average age was 75.1±7.5 years. The most common disease was diabetes (51%) followed by hypertension (49%). The average stay length in the hospital was 7.3±3.4 days, and a mean drugs intake of 4.1±1.9 drugs per patient. The average BMI was 23.7±4.8 kg/m2 with an average albumin rate of 34.1±6.7 g/L. The screening tools such as BMI and serum albumin revealed respectively 26.2% and 58.9% of malnourished elderly. The score of MNA screening showed that 51.2% of patients were at risk of malnutrition and 37.2% were malnourished. Conclusion. The nutritional risk and the prevalence of malnutrition for this elderly population are significant and constitute a real public health problem.