Amaran Asma, Draman Nani, Idris Nur Suhaila, Harith Sakinah
Klinik Kesihatan Naka, Pekan Naka, Kuala Nerang, Kedah.
Department of Family Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Malays J Med Sci. 2024 Dec;31(6):194-204. doi: 10.21315/mjms2024.31.6.15. Epub 2024 Dec 31.
Older people are more susceptible to malnutrition. Malnutrition is defined as imbalances and deficiencies of nutrients that result in diminished function. However, malnutrition identification through nutrition screening is not routinely performed at Malaysian health clinics or hospitals. Our study aimed to determine the proportion of older people at high risk of malnutrition and its associated factors.
This was a cross-sectional study conducted among older persons aged ≥ 60 years, and the exclusion criteria were older persons with known cases of dementia or the inability to stand and have hand problems that limit the ability to hold the dynamometer. Sociodemographic data and anthropometry assessment were conducted. Malnutrition risk screening tool-hospital, modified Barthel Index and the Elderly Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire were used in this study. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression.
A total of 200 older persons participated in the study, and the proportion of the high risk of malnutrition was 27 (13.5%). Poor handgrip strength odd ratio (OR) = 3.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41, 8.98; = 0.007) and living arrangements (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 1.31, 16.1; = 0.017) were significantly associated with a high risk of malnutrition in older persons.
The proportion of older persons at high risk of malnutrition was low (13.5%). Poor handgrip strength and living arrangements are significant factors associated with a high risk of malnutrition among older persons. Nutrition screening can help identify the cause and other factors of malnutrition. The role of healthcare personnel should be emphasised in nutrition screening, as they are commonly the first point of contact for patients seeking medical advice.
老年人更容易发生营养不良。营养不良被定义为营养物质的失衡和缺乏导致功能减退。然而，在马来西亚的健康诊所或医院，通过营养筛查来识别营养不良并非常规操作。我们的研究旨在确定有营养不良高风险的老年人比例及其相关因素。
这是一项针对60岁及以上老年人的横断面研究，排除标准为患有已知痴呆症病例的老年人或无法站立以及手部问题限制了握力计握持能力的老年人。进行了社会人口统计学数据和人体测量评估。本研究使用了营养不良风险筛查工具 - 医院版、改良巴氏指数和老年人认知评估问卷。数据采用描述性统计和多元逻辑回归进行分析。
共有200名老年人参与了该研究，营养不良高风险的比例为27人（13.5%）。握力差的优势比（OR）= 3.56，95%置信区间（CI）= 1.41，8.98；P = 0.007）和生活安排（OR = 4.6，95% CI = 1.31，16.1；P = 0.017）与老年人营养不良高风险显著相关。
有营养不良高风险的老年人比例较低（13.5%）。握力差和生活安排是与老年人营养不良高风险相关的重要因素。营养筛查有助于识别营养不良的原因和其他因素。应强调医护人员在营养筛查中的作用，因为他们通常是寻求医疗建议的患者的第一接触点。
