Assessment of Nutritional Status among Elderly Hospitalized Patients in Enugu, Nigeria: A Hospital-based Study.

Background: The ageing population worldwide presents a significant challenge for healthcare systems, with malnutrition being a common problem among elderly individuals, particularly those hospitalized. Assessing nutritional status is crucial for identifying and addressing malnutrition in this population. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among elderly hospitalized patients in a Nigerian tertiary healthcare setting.

Methodology: This was a hospital-based descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted from March to June 2023, involving 122 patients aged 60 years and above. Demographic data and anthropometric measurements were collected, and the Short-form Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF) tool was used to assess nutritional status. The reliability of the MNA-SF was assessed using Cronbach's α coefficient and item-to-total score correlations.

Results: The mean MNA score was 14.4 ± 5.3, with 71.3% of participants classified as malnourished, 22.1% at risk of malnutrition, and 6.6% well-nourished. Significant differences were observed in the body mass index (BMI) of nourished, at-risk, and malnourished individuals respectively (23.3 ± 3.6 kg/m², 22.5 ± 3.8 kg/m^2, and 19.6 ± 2.8 kg/m², p < 0.001). The MNA-SF tool demonstrated acceptable reliability (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.777), with significant correlations between total MNA scores and most MNA-SF questions.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of malnutrition among elderly hospitalized patients in this Nigerian tertiary hospital emphasizes the importance of implementing routine nutritional screening protocols and targeted nutritional interventions for improved health outcomes among the elderly.