Prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among community-dwelling older persons in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study

Damayanthi, Hewaratne Dassanayakege Wimala Thushari and Moy, Foong Ming and Abdullah, Khatijah Lim and Dharmaratne, Samath Dhamminda (2018) Prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among community-dwelling older persons in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatrics, 18 (1). p. 199. ISSN 1471-2318, DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-018-0892-2.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-018-0892-2

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition in older persons is a public health concern. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition and its associated factors among community-dwelling older persons in Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Kandy district, Sri Lanka. The nutritional status of older persons was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment -Short Form (MNA-SF). A standardised questionnaire was used to record factors associated with malnutrition: demographic characteristics, financial characteristics, food and appetite, lifestyle, psychological characteristics, physical characteristics, disease and care, oral health, and social factors. Complex sample multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Among the 999 participants included in the study, 748 (69.3%) were females and 251 (25.1%) were males. The mean age was 70.80 years (95% CI: 70.13, 71.47). The prevalence of malnutrition, risk of malnutrition and well-nutrition was 12.5%, 52.4% and 35.1% respectively. In the multivariate model, hypertension (adjusted OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.89), alcohol consumption (aOR = 4.06; 95% CI: 1.17, 14.07), and increased age (aOR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.11) were positively associated with malnutrition. An increased number of people living with the older person (aOR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.97) was a protective factor among those at risk for malnutrition. Conclusion: Both the prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition were commonly observed among community-dwelling older persons in Sri Lanka. The associated factors identified in this study might help public health professionals to implement necessary interventions that improve the nutritional status of this population.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Elderly persons; Malnutrition; Mini nutritional assessment; Prevalence; Sri Lanka
Subjects: R Medicine
R Medicine > RT Nursing
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 03 Sep 2019 05:20
Last Modified: 03 Sep 2019 05:20
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/22175

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