Sains Malaysiana 41(1)(2012): 141–148

Prevalence of Malnutrition among Institutionalized Elderly People in Northern Peninsular Malaysia: Gender, Ethnicity and Age-specific

(Prevalens Malpemakanan dalam Kalangan Warga Emas di Institusi Penjagaan Orang Tua di Utara Semenanjung Malaysia: Jantina, Kaum dan Umur-spesifik)

Seong Ting Chen*, Hooi Jiun Ngoh & Sakinah Harith

Dietetics Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

Received: 14 December 2010 / Accepted: 7 June 2011

ABSTRACT

Evidence-based information on nutritional status of elderly people is essential for the formulation of health care system and prevents the elderly people from the risk of poor health and malnutrition. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among elderly people in Northern Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 236 participants (149 men and 87 women), aged 60 years and above, resided in government-funded shelter home were recruited. Anthropometric parameters of body weight, standing height, body mass index (BMI), mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and waist circumference (WC) were measured and used as indices to assess malnutrition. The overall prevalence of under-nutrition based on BMI <18.5 kg/m² was 17.4% .The prevalence of overweight based on BMI ≥25 kg/m2 was 28.4%. Gender and ethnicity were significantly associated with malnutrition (p<0.05). Women were significantly more vulnerable to both underweight and overweight. Most Malays (37.7%) had overweight and obesity problems whereas more Indians (22.5%) were posed to greater risk of underweight. More women (32.2%) had abnormal WC than men (4%) (p<0.05). A significantly declined trend of anthropometric measurements was observed among the elderly between age groups 60-69 years and ≥80 years. In conclusion, malnutrition and overweight coexisted among the institutionalized elderly people and this situation urged for specific interventional strategies and health policy formulation in order to reduce this double burden of disease.

Keywords: Body mass index; elderly; malnutrition; mid-upper arm circumference; waist circumference

ABSTRAK

Maklumat yang tepat tentang status pemakanan warga emas boleh membantu dalam formulasi sistem kesihatan dan mengelakkan mereka daripada risiko kesihatan dan malpemakanan. Kajian keratan lintang ini bertujuan untuk menentukan prevalens malpemakanan warga emas di zon utara Semenanjung Malaysia. Seramai 236 orang peserta (149 lelaki dan 87 wanita), berumur 60 tahun ke atas, yang tinggal di institusi penjagaan orang tua awam telah dipilih. Ukuran berat badan, ketinggian, indeks jisim tubuh (BMI), lilitan pertengahan lengan atas (MUAC) dan ukur lilit pinggang (WC) dicatatkan. BMI, MUAC dan WC sebagai petunjuk untuk menentukan malpemakanan. Secara keseluruhannya, prevalens kekurangan berat badan yang berpandukan BMI <18.5 kg/m² adalah 17.4%. manakala prevalens lebih berat badan berpandukan BMI ≥25 kg/m2 pula mencatatkan 28.4%. Faktor jantina dan kaum mempunyai hubungkait yang signifikan dengan petunjuk malpemakanan (p<0.05). Golongan wanita mencatat peratusan yang lebih tinggi dalam kedua-dua aspek kekurangan dan lebihan berat badan. Kebanyakan kaum Melayu (37.7%) menghadapi masalah kegemukan manakala kebanyakan kaum India (22.5%) mengalami kekurangan berat badan. Lebih ramai wanita (32.2%) berbanding dengan lelaki (4%) yang mempunyai WC yang tinggi (p<0.05). Data juga menunjukkan bahawa ukuran antropometri warga emas pada umur ≥80 tahun adalah rendah berbanding dengan 60-69 tahun. Kesimpulan, kedua-dua masalah  telah dicerap dalam kalangan warga emas di institusi tersebut. Perancangan intervensi dan formulasi polisi kesihatan amat diperlukan untuk mengurangkan kedua-dua bebanan kesihatan.

Kata kunci: Indeks jisim tubuh; lilitan pertengahan lengan atas; malpemakanan; ukur lilit pinggang; warga emas

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*Corresponding author; email: chenseongting@gmail.com