Abstract
Objective: To assess the nutritional status of older adults and determine its association with appetite and anthropometric characteristics, including BMI, MAC, and CC.
Materials & Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study was conducted at a Private Health Center (PHC) at Lahore, Pakistan. The study included individuals aged 65 years and older who were residing in the district and attending the PHC. At the time of the study, approximately 1,000 older adults aged ≥65 years lived in the district, with approximately 120 older adults attending the FHC each month. A total of 148 participants were recruited between January 15, 2026 to June 10, 2026 based on their willingness to participate and fulfillment of the eligibility criteria. Individuals with severe psychiatric disorders, dementia, or communication difficulties, including severe hearing or visual impairment, were excluded. Ethical approval was obtained from the Head of PHC. After providing informed consent, eligible participants were interviewed face-to-face to collect sociodemographic and general health information. Anthropometric measurements were obtained and recorded, while relevant biochemical data from the preceding month were retrieved from the patients’ medical records. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire, supplemented by 13 questions.
Results: A total of 148 older adults were included, of whom 51 (34.46%) were malnourished, 27 (18.24%) were at risk of malnutrition, and 70 (47.30%) had normal nutritional status. Nutritional status differed significantly according to age, education, residence, appetite, BMI, MAC, CC, and MNA score (all p < 0.05). Participants with malnutrition were older, more likely to live alone, and had a higher prevalence of severe anorexia. Mean BMI, MAC, and CC were significantly lower in the malnutrition group than in the risk and normal nutrition groups (p < 0.001). Mean MNA scores were 12.72 ± 1.48, 22.34 ± 2.60, and 28.34 ± 3.30 in the malnutrition, risk, and normal nutrition groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Among malnourished participants, 70.59% were women and 29.41% were men. Overall, the findings demonstrate a substantial burden of malnutrition and highlight the importance of early nutritional screening among older adults.
Conclusion: Malnutrition affected 34.46% of older adults, with 18.24% at risk. Advanced age, living alone, poor appetite, and lower anthropometric measures were associated with poor nutritional status, emphasizing the need for early MNA-based screening and intervention