Assessment of Nutritional Status and Influencing Factors among Elderly in Mathikere, Urban Bengaluru, Karnataka of India

Background: In India, geriatric people aged ≥60 years are an important component of elderly care that warrants further attention. Hence we aimed to assess nutritional status and influencing factors among elderly people in Mathikere, Urban Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was carried out by doing house to house survey after obtaining informed consent from 195 elderly participants. Sociodemographic and self-reported morbidity details were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Mini nutritional assessment (MNA) tool was utilized to evaluate nutritional status and dietary intake. Cognitive status of elderly was assessed using Hindi Mental Status Examination (HMSE), depression among the elderly was investigated using Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF), functional status was determined by Barthel index and Lawton scale. Anthropometric measurements such as height, midarm circumference, calf circumference were measured by non-stretchable measuring tape and weight was assessed using Equinox EQ-BR 9201 personal weighing scale.Results: With the MNA tool, out of 195 study participants, total prevalence of elderly people who needed nutritional intervention was 56 subjects (28.7%). The independent predictors of risk of malnutrition among the elderly after adjusting other variables in multiple logistic regression analysis were depression by Geriatric Depression Scale, Short Form, Barthel index, Lawton scale and ≥2 self-reported chronic morbidities.Conclusion: Total prevalence of the elderly who needed nutritional intervention living in Karnataka, India was 28.7%. Hence, public health professionals should develop effective screening strategies to detect malnutrition among the elderly.