Prevalence of undernutrition in a long-term care facility in Qatar

J Nutr Elder. 2009 Jul;28(3):313-22. doi: 10.1080/01639360903140353.

Abstract

This study assessed the nutritional status of 130 Qatari patients aged 65 to 90 years who were residing in a long-term care facility for six months. Admission weight was not measured for 49.2% of the subjects. Of those whose weight was measured at admission, assessment at six months indicated that 21.3% had lost more than 10% of their admission weight, 38.9% were under the fifth percentile of body mass index (BMI), 39.8% had a BMI less than 21, 27.1% had albumin level below 34 g/L, and 18.6% had total cholesterol below (140 mg/dl). The study showed a high prevalence of undernutrition among these long-term care residents and indicated that appropriate nutritional assessment and nutrition care were not fully implemented during their stay in the facility.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Dementia / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Diet*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Long-Term Care*
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / epidemiology*
  • Nutritional Status
  • Prevalence
  • Qatar / epidemiology
  • Weight Loss / physiology*