ABSTRACT

This study investigated the nutritional status and functional ability of the elderly (65 years and above) in Umuahia North and Ikwuano Local Government Areas of Abia State. The study was a cross sectional study and purposive sampling technique was used. Six hundred (600) respondents made of 224(37.33%) males and 376(62.67%) females were randomly selected from 8 communities for the study. Structured, validated and pre-tested questionnaire was used to elicit information on demographic, socioeconomic, food consumption, medical and health status of the respondents. Functional ability using activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scales were also used to obtain information. Nutritional vulnerability using mini nutritional assessment (MNA), cognitive function using short portable mental status questionnaire (SPMSQ) and anthropometric assessment were all compared with their standards and cut-off points. Nutrient intake was calculated using weighed food intake on 5% of the study sample and the values were compared with FAO/WHO/UNU standards. Serum haemoglobin (Hb), albumin, ferritin, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and C - reactive protein (CRP) were estimated on 25% of the subjects using standard procedures. Results were compared with their recommended cut-off points. The data were statistically analyzed and correlated with other parameters. The males had significantly higher (P>0.05) monthly income than the females and literacy levels were higher for males than females. More than 76% of the subjects consumed 3 meals daily. Visual impairment was highest health problem regularly encountered. Majority (62.7%) of the respondents had normal BMI. The BMI for males, 21.90+3.58 and 23.08+4.04 for females were within the normal range. The mean BMI calculated using weight and height was higher than that of arm span. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in all the anthropometric indices between the males and females except for waist, hip, calf circumference and height. High prevalence of anaemia was revealed from the Hb estimation (89.5% males and 71% females). Most respondents (82.7%) had abnormal albumin grades. Low ferritin was observed in 81.3% of the respondents. Seventy two percent (72%) of the respondents had optimal and near optimal LDL. The mean scores on ADL for females were not significantly higher (P>0.05) than that of the males. The percentage dependency by (IADL) increased with age in both sexes except for females 75-79 years of age. Seventy four percent (74%) of the respondents were at risk of malnutrition using MNA. Cognitive function assessed by SPMSQ decreased as age increased. Nutrient intakes for almost all the nutrients were higher than FAO/WHO/UNU standards, yet many respondents were at risk of malnutrition and had low Hb, ferritin, and albumin levels. Some (47.2%) were hypertensive (45.7% males and 48.2% females). Another 52.7% made of 54.4% males and 5 1.8% females had either optimal or normal or prehypertension. There were more hypertensive females than males. The study revealed undernutriton alongside overweight and obesity; a phenomenon known as double burden of malnutrition.