~ 901 ~
International Journal of Physiology, Nutrition and Physical Education 2018; 3(1): 901-904
ISSN: 2456-0057
IJPNPE 2018; 3(1): 901-904
© 2018 IJPNPE
www.journalofsports.com
Received: 19-11-2017
Accepted: 20-12-2017
Dr. Dimple Arora
Department of Physiology,
C. M. Medical College,
Kachandur, Durg, Chhattisgarh,
India
Soudeep Kr. Sau
Special Officer, Vidyasagar
University, Midnapore, Paschim
Medinipur, West Bengal, India
Nilotpal Mandal
Department of Nutrition,
Mahishadal Girl’s College,
Mahishadal, Purba Medinipur,
West Bengal, India
Ananda Raj Goswami
Department of Physiology,
New Horizon Dental College and
Research Institute, Sakri,
Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India
Correspondence
Dr. Dimple Arora
Department of Physiology,
C. M. Medical College,
Kachandur, Durg, Chhattisgarh,
India
A comparative study of some physiological and
nutritional status of elderly persons living in the old age
home with those living in the home
Dr. Dimple Arora, Soudeep Kr. Sau, Nilotpal Mandal, and Ananda Raj
Goswami
Abstract
The elderly peoples were particularly vulnerable group of our society. Ageing is often accompanied by
the occurrence of illness, which may increase the risk of nutritional deficiency. A comparative study was
therefore performed to evaluate the nutritional status as well as the physiological status of elderly living
at old age homes and in community, in the Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal. A total of 200 elderly male
subjects having aged over 60 years were selected at random for the study. The subjects were constituted
by 100 inmates of old age homes and 100 people who were residing at their houses. Dietary intake
pattern, anthropometric measurements and physiological examinations were the parameters used to
evaluate the nutritional status of the selected subjects. The results showed that the elderly living in old
age homes had lower weight, BMI, MUAC, chest circumference, waist circumference and hip
circumference compared to those living at home. The present study also indicated that the systolic and
diastolic blood pressure were high in elderly subjects living in old age home those living in old age
homes compared to that the elderly at home. The elderly people living in old age homes were more
hypertensive than that the elderly people living at home. The calorie intakes as well as the dietary intakes
were of elderly subjects living in old age homes were significantly decreased compared to that the elderly
at home. The uric acid level was unaltered in elderly subjects living in old age home compared to elderly
subjects at home. From this study, it can be concluded that the health and nutritional status of elderly
residing at their home was much better than elderly whose residing in old age home.
Keywords: Old age, nutritional status, MUAC, BMI
1. Introduction
The proportion of older persons in the population of a country has increased. From 5.6% in
1961 the proportion has increased to 8.6% in 2011
[1]
and 13.69% in 2016
[2]
. For males it was
marginally lower at 8.2%, while for females it was 9.0%
[2]
. Due to economic well-being,
better health care system, good medicines, etc. there is substantial reduction in mortality in the
society. These factors together have resulted in increasing number of elderly persons in the
population. This phenomenon, called population ageing, is a dynamic demographic trend all
over the world.
Anthropometric values are closely related to nutrition, genetic makeup, environmental
characteristics, social and cultural conditions, lifestyle, functional status and health.
Anthropometric evaluation is an essential feature of geriatric nutritional evaluation for
determining malnutrition, being overweight, obesity, muscular mass loss, fat mass gain and
adipose tissue redistribution. Anthropometric indicators are used to evaluate the prognosis of
chronic and acute diseases, and to guide medical intervention in the elderly
[3-5]
.
There are many reports which indicate that the nutritionally inadequate diets can contribute to
or exacerbate chronic and acute diseases
[6-8]
. Agnihotri
[9]
and Saha
[10]
reported that hasten the
development of degenerative diseases associated with aging, and delay recovery from illness.
The malnutrition among the elderly is most often due to loneliness and the old age is a time of
losses believed by the many. Now the growth of many old age homes which are all flooded
due to today’s busy work structure and the nuclear family cluster. The negligence was the
common problems in senior citizens across the world and due to this negligence they are