The Nutritional Status Of The Elderly People In A Geriatric Institution Of Changsha District, And Their Associated Factors

Objective:The objectives of this study were to detect the nutritional status of geriatric institution in Changsha district, to analysis the relationship between of social environment, the state of mind, daily living, quality of life and MNA score; and to identify those who at risk of malnutrition and those who suffering from malnutrition; to explore the main factors that affect the nutritional status of elderly people in nursing institutions. This study aimed to improve the service of health care interventions in nursing home and provide a scientific guidance to help the elderly to master the knowledge of nutrition which will help them to improve their own nutrition and health. In conclude this study aimed to improve the nutritional and health status of elderly people in geriatric institutions and improve their quality of life.Methods:This study used a cross-sectional survey method,200elderly patients were selected randomly from a nursing home in Changsha City. Questionnaires issued by the staff of the study to older people who met the study criteria. First unified approach by investigators was involved in each scale physical indicators (height, weight, upper arm circumference and calf circumference) measurements, then fasting blood tests of the selected elderly patients were completed which included hemoglobin, lymphocyte count and albumin. And then we complete of the investigation through scales by interview. The survey scale includes a total of five parts:the elderly general questionnaire the elderly Depression Scale (GDS), activities of daily living (ADL) scale, micro-nutritional assessment (MNA) method, the quality of life(the EQ-5D questionnaire). All of these scales were used to collect the predictive factors which may affect the nutritional status of the elderly. Ordial ogistic analysis was used to evaluate whether there was a correlation between two factors. The above analyses were conducted with SPSS17.0statistical software.Results:This study was conducted selecting100elderly people aged between60-89years. The mean age was72.12±9.08years old.66(33%) of the elderly exist hypoproteinemia, anemia in patients was with a total of58cases, accounting for29%. The MNA average score is19.13±7.53, according to MNA rating standard,28%of the elderly are normal nutrition (MNA score>24),51.5%of respondents were at risk of malnutrition (17<MNA score<23.5),20.5%of respondents existed malnutrition. From Life activity ADL scale, GDS scale for depression, quality of life EQ-5D scale, we found that population sociological characteristics, knowledge of health care, health status, depression, life activity were closely related with malnutrition risk in elderly people in geriatric institution.Conclusions:The results of this study suggest that a large portion of elderly people in geriatric institution were in a state of malnutrition or risk of malnutrition.The overall nutritional status in elderly people of geriatric institution in Changsha City reached the the nutrition levels of domestic coastal cities, but compared with the developed countries, there are still large gaps. Health care workers for geriatric institution shoud care the elderly according to the specific circumstances. We should give them individualized, targeted health education programs to increase the knowledge of health care for the elderly, and we should pay special attention to grasp the psychological status of the elderly, to help them improve their activities capacity. As the nutritional status were differenct between individuals, nursing care should be planed based on the specific circumstances of the main factors which affect the nutritional status of different elderly peole, and we should take the appropriate care interventions to improve the quality of life of older persons in the geriatric institution.