Maria Vieira de Lima Saintrain1, Rafaela Lais E Silva Pesenti Sandrin2, Carina Bandeira Bezerra2, Ana Ofélia Portela Lima3, Marina Arrais Nobre2, Débora Rosana Alves Braga4. 1. Public Health Graduation Program, University of Fortaleza - Unifor, Av. Washington Soares, 1321, Edson Queiroz, CEP 60.811-905, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Electronic address: mvlsaintrain@yahoo.com.br. 2. School of Medicine, University of Fortaleza - Unifor, Av. Washington Soares, 1321, Edson Queiroz, CEP 60.811-905, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. 3. Public Health Graduation Program, University of Fortaleza - Unifor, Av. Washington Soares, 1321, Edson Queiroz, CEP 60.811-905, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. 4. School of Dentistry, University of Fortaleza - Unifor, Av. Washington Soares, 1321, Edson Queiroz, CEP 60.811-905, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Abstract
AIMS: We aimed to screen the nutritional status of older adults with diabetes mellitus, seeking to outline the needs of this population group considering their socioeconomic status. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 246 diabetic people aged 65-94 years in Northeastern Brazil. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, general health and lifestyle data. The Mini Nutritional Assessment was used to screen nutritional status. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 73 ± 6.4 years, and there was a predominance of women (56.5%). The mean duration of diabetes was 14.1 years (±9.6 years). Patients aged 80 years or older presented a 3.7-fold higher risk of malnutrition (p < 0.001), and those who were uneducated exhibited a 5.8-fold higher risk of malnutrition (p = 0.040). Patients with BMI of 18.6-24.9 km/m2 presented a 2.2-fold higher risk of malnutrition than overweight or obese patients (p < 0.001). Nutritional status was significantly associated with coronary artery disease (p = 0.010) and stroke (p < 0.001). Malnourished patients exhibited a 2.2-fold higher occurrence of infection in the past 6 months (p = 0.017) and 2-fold higher occurrence of foot injuries (p = 0.028) than their well-nourished peers. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition in older diabetic patients exacerbates underlying diseases and contributes to unfavorable prognosis, particularly in the oldest old and in individuals with low levels of education.
AIMS: We aimed to screen the nutritional status of older adults with diabetes mellitus, seeking to outline the needs of this population group considering their socioeconomic status. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 246 diabeticpeople aged 65-94 years in Northeastern Brazil. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, general health and lifestyle data. The Mini Nutritional Assessment was used to screen nutritional status. RESULTS:Participants' mean age was 73 ± 6.4 years, and there was a predominance of women (56.5%). The mean duration of diabetes was 14.1 years (±9.6 years). Patients aged 80 years or older presented a 3.7-fold higher risk of malnutrition (p < 0.001), and those who were uneducated exhibited a 5.8-fold higher risk of malnutrition (p = 0.040). Patients with BMI of 18.6-24.9 km/m2 presented a 2.2-fold higher risk of malnutrition than overweight or obesepatients (p < 0.001). Nutritional status was significantly associated with coronary artery disease (p = 0.010) and stroke (p < 0.001). Malnourished patients exhibited a 2.2-fold higher occurrence of infection in the past 6 months (p = 0.017) and 2-fold higher occurrence of foot injuries (p = 0.028) than their well-nourished peers. CONCLUSION:Malnutrition in older diabeticpatients exacerbates underlying diseases and contributes to unfavorable prognosis, particularly in the oldest old and in individuals with low levels of education.