Frailty and Malnutrition among Community Dwelling Older Adults

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Demonstrator in Gerontological Nursing Department

2 Lecturer of Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing - Mansoura University

3 Assistant Professor of Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing - Mansoura University

Abstract

Background: Ageing population is increasing rapidly worldwide, leading to significant outcomes for those population,
and also lead growing prevalence of frailty which affects up to 51% of the geriatric population in developing countries.
Frailty and malnutrition share common pathophysiology, and screenings tools include overlapping items, such as weight
loss and impaired physical function, but they are different entities. Aim: Assess frailty and malnutrition among
community-dwelling older adults. Method: Cross-sectional study design used throughout this study. A cluster sampling
technique was utilized on 300 community-dwelling older adults in 3 urban and 3 rural areas affiliated to Dakahlia
governorate. Data was collected using 3 tools, demographic and health-related data structured interview schedule,
survey of health, aging, and retirement in Europe of the frailty indicator, and mini nutritional assessment questionnaire.
Results: It was observed that 64.7% of the studied older adults were frail, 64.2% were malnutrition. It was noticed that,
age, current work, number of diseases, and malnutrition were significant independent predictors for frailty as well as for
malnutrition (p<0.001). Conclusion: it concluded that frailty and malnutrition were highly prevalent in communitydwellers
in Egypt and that there was a relationship between frailty and malnutrition. Recommendation: Educational
program for older adults with both conditions, and implementation of an intervention program is especially important for
primary health care providers mainly for nurses especially during both Covid-19 pandemic and at an earlier stage of the
conditions, regarding problems faced nurses when caring for frail and malnourished patients.
 

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