Malnutrition and anthropometric measurements among elderly people with cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Background: Aging is accompanied by physiologic changes that can negatively impact nutritional status. Progressive under nutrition during aging is associated with early death. Some food avoidance could complicate nutritional status during chronic diseases in elderly people. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare malnutrition among elderly people with and without cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Method: This case-control study was conducted on 64 healthy elder subjects (as a control group) and 64 elderly patients with CVDs (as a case group) in Shiraz (2017). Demographic and mini nutritional assessment (MNA) questionnaires were completed for each participant. Anthropometric data (weight, BMI, waist, hip, arm and calf circumferences) were measured. Findings: Malnutrition distribution was significantly different between two groups based on MNA score (P