Sarcopenia among elderly residing in institution and determination of malnutrition risk using mini nutritional screening tool

During ageing, changes occur in food intake and as well as with certain physiological changes in the body. Malnutrition is an important health problem in elderly when nutritional intake is highly inadequate. The purpose of this study is to determine sarcopenia and the risk of malnutrition using Mini Nutritional Assessment Screening Test (MNA) in elderly people living in nursing homes. The study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted on 58 volunteers (Male: 35, 60.3%; Female: 23, 39.7%) living in Gaziantep Nursing Home Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Centre who were not bedridden and were capable of communication. During the study, with a questionnaire demographic characteristics and nutritional habits were determined, MNA screening test was applied and anthropometric measurements and muscle (handgrip) strength with a dynamometer were measured and walking speed test was applied. Mean age (±SD) of the individuals was 77.6±9.0 years and duration of living in the nursing home was 3.6±2.7 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) of males and females were 26.9±5.0 and 30.9±8.0 kg/m2, respectively (p=0.121, p>0.05). Percentage of thin, normal weight, overweight and obese elderly were 3.4%, 25.9%, 39.7% and 31.0%, respectively. No significant relationship was found between gender and BMI (p=0.121, p>0.05). Mean muscle strength of the individuals was 21.2±9.2 kg in males and 11.4±3.9 kg in females (p=0.001, p<0.05). Out of total 77.1% of males (<30 kg) and 100% of females (<20 kg) had muscle strength deficiency (p=0.017, p<0.05) and 77.1% of males, 91.3% of females had walking speed time less than 0.8 m/minutes. No significant relationship between gender and walking speed test was found (p=0.287, p>0.05). Mean MNA test scores were 21.4±5.1 and 21.4±3.5 in males and females, respectively (p=0.445, p>0.05). According to the scores 36.2% of the individuals had normal nutritional status, whereas 48.3% of them was at risk of malnutrition, and 15.5% was diagnosed with malnutrition. There was no significant relationship between gender and MNA score (p=0.253, p>0.05). Malnutrition wasn't seen in any of the individuals with adequate muscle strength. Subjects with low muscle strength depending on MNA test 54.0% was at risk of malnutrition and 18.0% had malnutrition (p=0.009, p<0.05). Individuals with adequate muscle strength had higher (>0.8 m/min) walking speed (p=0.001, p<0.05). As a result, it was determined that malnutrition and sarcopenia are important health problems in the elderly. It is necessary to develop, implement and monitor effective policies in order to prevent malnutrition. Elderly people should be screened for malnutrition risk periodically using MNA test. Key Words: Elderly, malnutrition, sarcopenia, muscle strength, mini nutritional assessment