Application of the MNA scale in older adults in the parish of Quingeo - Cuenca, 2018

Abstract

The problems related to the nutrition of the elderly have become especially relevant today and have been a subject of study for health professionals; The WHO has identified this group of the population as nutritionally vulnerable due to the physiological deficit achieved. In 2014; estimated figures worldwide; reveal that there were approximately 462 million underweight adults and 1.9 billion people who were overweight or obese. Objective: To assess the nutritional status of the elderly through the minimum nutritional measurement scale "MNA" applied to the members of the Club of Older Adults of Quingeo Parish, Cuenca canton in the period from January to September 2018. Methods and Materials: The The following research was quantitative, descriptive level, cross-sectional, and worked with the entire population, 130 older adults. The data collection was carried out with the Minimum Nutritional Assessment Scale, it consists of 18 multiple-choice items, sociodemographic and anthropometric data were integrated. Results: The MNA shows that 60% are at risk of malnutrition, 40% are malnourished. BMI, 46.2% normal weight, 40% classified as underweight and with 11.5% overweight, and finally, obesity with a minimum percentage of 2.3%. Conclusions: The nutritional status shows that a high percentage of the population is at risk of malnutrition according to the MNA, less than half are underweight and a similar percentage is in normal weight with BMI values.