Malnutrition and morbidity are closely interrelated, particularly among the elderly, where poor nutritional status contributes to increased illness, functional decline, and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of individuals aged 60 years and above and examine its association with selected sociodemographic variables. A quantitative descriptive research design was adopted, and 80 participants were selected using purposive sampling from a selected area of the Pulwama district. Data were collected using a structured sociodemographic proforma and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, while the chi-square test was applied to determine associations. The findings revealed that most of participants (67.5%) were aged 60–70 years, 63.8% were male, 68.8% were illiterate, and 51.3% belonged to the middle-income group. Based on screening scores, 47.5% were at risk of malnutrition, 33.8% had normal nutritional status, and 18.8% were malnourished. However, a detailed assessment indicated that 97.5% of participants were malnourished, with only 2.5% at risk and none having normal nutritional status. A statistically significant association was found between nutritional status and variables such as age (p = 0.035) and occupation (p = 0.035). The study highlights the high prevalence of malnutrition among the elderly and emphasizes the need for targeted nutritional interventions to improve their health and overall well-being.

Keywords: Malnutrition, elderly population, nutritional status, mini nutritional assessment, sociodemographic factors

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1. Entropy and life. Wikipedia. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy_and_life [cited 2024 Sep 13].
2. Ageing and changes in other systems. Physio-pedia. Available from: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Ageing_and_Changes_in_Other_Systems [cited 2024 Sep 13].
3. MedlinePlus encyclopedia article. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article [cited 2024 Sep 13].
4. Dziechciaż M, Filip R. Biological psychological and social determinants of old age: Bio-psycho-social aspects of human aging. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014;21(4):835–838. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269934800_Biological_psychological_and_social_determinants_of_old_age_Bio-psycho-social_aspects_of_human_aging [cited 2024 Sep 13].
5. Ageing and health. World Health Organization. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health [cited 2024 Sep 13].
6. Agarwalla R, Saikia A, Baruah R. Assessment of the nutritional status of the elderly and its correlates. J Fam Community Med. 2015;22(1):39. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/25657610/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
7. Norman K, Hab U, Pirlich M. Malnutrition in older adults—Recent advances and remaining challenges. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2764. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net /publication /353854079_Malnutrition_in_Older_AdultsRecent_Advances_and_Remaining_Challenges [cited 2024 Sep 13].
8. Evans C. Malnutrition in the elderly: A multifactorial failure to thrive. TPJ. 2005;19(6):12–16. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22811627/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
9. Sonawane SS, Varghese VA, Moses JPJ. A cross-sectional study on malnutrition in elderly using mini nutrition assessment scores in an urban slum. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2019;6(8):3274. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368090503__cross-sectional_study_on_malnutrition_in_elderly_using_mini_nutrition_assessment_scores_in_an_urban_slum [cited 2024 Sep 15].
10. Krishnamoorthy Y, Vijayageetha M, Kumar SG, Rajaa S, Rehman T. Prevalence of malnutrition and its associated factors among elderly population in rural Puducherry using mini-nutritional assessment questionnaire. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018;7(6):1429–1433. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30613537/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
11. Bisai S, Dey U. Malnutrition assessed by mini nutritional assessment tool among Indian elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2020;7(11):4672–4677. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345015394_Malnutrition_assessed_by _mini_nutritional_assessment_tool_among_Indian_elderly_a_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis [cited 2024 Sep 13].
12. Joymati O, Ningombam M, Rajkumari B, Gangmei A. Assessment of nutritional status among elderly population in a rural area in Manipur: community-based cross-sectional study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2018;5(7):3125–3129. Available from: https://www.researchgate .net/publication/325948202_Assessment_of_nutritional_status_among_elderly_population_in_a_ rural_area_in_Manipur_community-based_cross-sectional_study [cited 2024 Sep 13].
13. Gohar M, Barua K, Srivastava S, Mahajan H, Pawaiya AS, Nagar SK. A cross-sectional study to assess the under-nutrition amongst the elderly population in a rural area of district Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2024;13(2):780–786. Available from: https://pubmed .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38605804/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
14. Ayushree BRA, Biswal R, Munda M, Udgata J, Bhoi B. An assessment of nutritional status of elderly in Bolangir district of Odisha: A community based study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2023;10(9):3226–3230. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication /373493657 _An _assessment_of_nutritional_status_of_elderly_in_Bolangir_district_of_Odisha _a_community_based_study [cited 2024 Sep 13].
15. Vellas B, Guigoz Y, Garry PJ, Nourhashemi F, Bennahum D, Lauque S, et al. The mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and its use in grading the nutritional state of elderly patients. Nutrition. 1999; 15(2):116–122. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9990575/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
16. Ahmed T, Haboubi N. Assessment and management of nutrition in older people and its importance to health. Clin Interv Aging. 2010;5:207–216. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /20711440/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
17. D N S, Manglik CG, Saldanha RD, Sharma PP. Assessment of nutritional status among geriatric population in rural Mangaluru: A cross sectional study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2019;6(6):2408. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333413524 _Assessment_of_nutritional_status_among_geriatric_population_in_rural_Mangaluru_a_cross_sectional_study [cited 2024 Sep 13].
18. Acharya A, Reddaiah VP, Baridalyne N. Nutritional status and menarche in adolescent girls in an urban resettlement colony of South Delhi. Indian J Community Med. 2006;31:302–303. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256297957_Acharya_AReddaiah_VP_Baridalyne _N_Nutritional_Status_and_Menarche_in_Adolescent_Girls_in_an_Urban_Resettlement_Colony_of_South_Delhi_Indian_J_Community_ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
19. Mohammed FY, Ali JS, AbuBakr AS, Mohamed RF. Malnutrition among elderly patients with selected chronic diseases: Screening and risk factors at Minia University Hospital. Minia Sci Nurs J. 2024;15(2):31–41. Available from: https://msnj.journals.ekb.eg/article_356155_71dfe2dc8145 6c23f553d89f1ecf50c9 [cited 2024 Sep 13].
20. Yadav K, Dubey DK, Shukla US, Sharma A. Assessment of nutritional status of elderly in rural field practice area of Jhalawar medical college, Jhalawar, India. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2023;10(7):2529–2532. Available from: https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph 20232048 [cited 2024 Sep 13].
21. Sözer T, Yağmur C, Kaya Başar E. Evaluation of malnutrition status and effective factors in elderly patients in internal medicine clinic: descriptive research. Turkiye Klin J Health Sci. 2022;7(2):320–329. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361080419_Evaluation_of _Malnutrition_Status_and_Effective_Factors_in_Elderly_Patients_in_Internal_Medicine_Clinic_Descriptive_Research [cited 2024 Sep 13].
22. Damayanthi HDWT, Moy FM, Abdullah KL, Dharmaratne SD. Prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among community-dwelling older persons in Sri Lanka: A cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr. 2018;18(1). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327330219 _Prevalence_of_malnutrition_and_associated_factors_among_community-dwelling_older _persons_in_Sri_Lanka_A_cross-sectional_study [cited 2024 Sep 15].
23. Eldardery N, Eldardery A, El-Sayed E, Fouad N. Risk factors of malnutrition among elderly in geriatric homes. 2022;7(5):62–74. Available from: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Risk-Factors-of-Malnutrition-among-Elderly-in-Homes-Eldardery[cited 2024 Sep 15].
24. Singh A, Anuradha P, Narayan M. Nutritional status of institutionalized elderly population of Lucknow city. Int J Adv Res Dev. 2018;3:128–132. Available from: https://www.ijarnd .com/manuscript/nutritional-status-of-institutionalized-elderly-population-of-lucknow-city/ [cited 2024 Sep 15].
25. Moly KT, Monisha U, Aleena Treesa Biju, Feena Shajan. Prevalence of malnutrition and its contributing factors among geriatric patients. J Posit Sch Psychol. 2022;6(9):4529–4536. Available from: https://journalppw.com/index.php/jpsp/article/view/13215 [cited 2024 Sep 15].
26. Olawumi AL, Grema BA, Suleiman AK, Omeiza YS, Michael GC, Shuaibu A. Nutritional status and morbidity patterns of the elderly in a northwestern Nigerian hospital. Niger Postgrad Med J. 2021;28(3):160–168. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication /355478581 _Nutritional_Status_and_Morbidity_Patterns_of_the_Elderly_in_a_Northwestern_Nigerian_Hospital_A_Cross-sectional_Study [cited 2024 Sep 15].

Malnutrition and morbidity are closely interrelated, particularly among the elderly, where poor nutritional status contributes to increased illness, functional decline, and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of individuals aged 60 years and above and examine its association with selected sociodemographic variables. A quantitative descriptive research design was adopted, and 80 participants were selected using purposive sampling from a selected area of the Pulwama district. Data were collected using a structured sociodemographic proforma and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, while the chi-square test was applied to determine associations. The findings revealed that most of participants (67.5%) were aged 60–70 years, 63.8% were male, 68.8% were illiterate, and 51.3% belonged to the middle-income group. Based on screening scores, 47.5% were at risk of malnutrition, 33.8% had normal nutritional status, and 18.8% were malnourished. However, a detailed assessment indicated that 97.5% of participants were malnourished, with only 2.5% at risk and none having normal nutritional status. A statistically significant association was found between nutritional status and variables such as age (p = 0.035) and occupation (p = 0.035). The study highlights the high prevalence of malnutrition among the elderly and emphasizes the need for targeted nutritional interventions to improve their health and overall well-being.

Keywords: Malnutrition, elderly population, nutritional status, mini nutritional assessment, sociodemographic factors

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Entropy and life. Wikipedia. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy_and_life [cited 2024 Sep 13].
2. Ageing and changes in other systems. Physio-pedia. Available from: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Ageing_and_Changes_in_Other_Systems [cited 2024 Sep 13].
3. MedlinePlus encyclopedia article. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article [cited 2024 Sep 13].
4. Dziechciaż M, Filip R. Biological psychological and social determinants of old age: Bio-psycho-social aspects of human aging. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014;21(4):835–838. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269934800_Biological_psychological_and_social_determinants_of_old_age_Bio-psycho-social_aspects_of_human_aging [cited 2024 Sep 13].
5. Ageing and health. World Health Organization. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health [cited 2024 Sep 13].
6. Agarwalla R, Saikia A, Baruah R. Assessment of the nutritional status of the elderly and its correlates. J Fam Community Med. 2015;22(1):39. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/25657610/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
7. Norman K, Hab U, Pirlich M. Malnutrition in older adults—Recent advances and remaining challenges. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2764. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net /publication /353854079_Malnutrition_in_Older_AdultsRecent_Advances_and_Remaining_Challenges [cited 2024 Sep 13].
8. Evans C. Malnutrition in the elderly: A multifactorial failure to thrive. TPJ. 2005;19(6):12–16. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22811627/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
9. Sonawane SS, Varghese VA, Moses JPJ. A cross-sectional study on malnutrition in elderly using mini nutrition assessment scores in an urban slum. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2019;6(8):3274. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368090503__cross-sectional_study_on_malnutrition_in_elderly_using_mini_nutrition_assessment_scores_in_an_urban_slum [cited 2024 Sep 15].
10. Krishnamoorthy Y, Vijayageetha M, Kumar SG, Rajaa S, Rehman T. Prevalence of malnutrition and its associated factors among elderly population in rural Puducherry using mini-nutritional assessment questionnaire. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018;7(6):1429–1433. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30613537/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
11. Bisai S, Dey U. Malnutrition assessed by mini nutritional assessment tool among Indian elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2020;7(11):4672–4677. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345015394_Malnutrition_assessed_by _mini_nutritional_assessment_tool_among_Indian_elderly_a_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis [cited 2024 Sep 13].
12. Joymati O, Ningombam M, Rajkumari B, Gangmei A. Assessment of nutritional status among elderly population in a rural area in Manipur: community-based cross-sectional study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2018;5(7):3125–3129. Available from: https://www.researchgate .net/publication/325948202_Assessment_of_nutritional_status_among_elderly_population_in_a_ rural_area_in_Manipur_community-based_cross-sectional_study [cited 2024 Sep 13].
13. Gohar M, Barua K, Srivastava S, Mahajan H, Pawaiya AS, Nagar SK. A cross-sectional study to assess the under-nutrition amongst the elderly population in a rural area of district Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2024;13(2):780–786. Available from: https://pubmed .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38605804/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
14. Ayushree BRA, Biswal R, Munda M, Udgata J, Bhoi B. An assessment of nutritional status of elderly in Bolangir district of Odisha: A community based study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2023;10(9):3226–3230. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication /373493657 _An _assessment_of_nutritional_status_of_elderly_in_Bolangir_district_of_Odisha _a_community_based_study [cited 2024 Sep 13].
15. Vellas B, Guigoz Y, Garry PJ, Nourhashemi F, Bennahum D, Lauque S, et al. The mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and its use in grading the nutritional state of elderly patients. Nutrition. 1999; 15(2):116–122. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9990575/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
16. Ahmed T, Haboubi N. Assessment and management of nutrition in older people and its importance to health. Clin Interv Aging. 2010;5:207–216. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /20711440/ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
17. D N S, Manglik CG, Saldanha RD, Sharma PP. Assessment of nutritional status among geriatric population in rural Mangaluru: A cross sectional study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2019;6(6):2408. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333413524 _Assessment_of_nutritional_status_among_geriatric_population_in_rural_Mangaluru_a_cross_sectional_study [cited 2024 Sep 13].
18. Acharya A, Reddaiah VP, Baridalyne N. Nutritional status and menarche in adolescent girls in an urban resettlement colony of South Delhi. Indian J Community Med. 2006;31:302–303. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256297957_Acharya_AReddaiah_VP_Baridalyne _N_Nutritional_Status_and_Menarche_in_Adolescent_Girls_in_an_Urban_Resettlement_Colony_of_South_Delhi_Indian_J_Community_ [cited 2024 Sep 13].
19. Mohammed FY, Ali JS, AbuBakr AS, Mohamed RF. Malnutrition among elderly patients with selected chronic diseases: Screening and risk factors at Minia University Hospital. Minia Sci Nurs J. 2024;15(2):31–41. Available from: https://msnj.journals.ekb.eg/article_356155_71dfe2dc8145 6c23f553d89f1ecf50c9 [cited 2024 Sep 13].
20. Yadav K, Dubey DK, Shukla US, Sharma A. Assessment of nutritional status of elderly in rural field practice area of Jhalawar medical college, Jhalawar, India. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2023;10(7):2529–2532. Available from: https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph 20232048 [cited 2024 Sep 13].
21. Sözer T, Yağmur C, Kaya Başar E. Evaluation of malnutrition status and effective factors in elderly patients in internal medicine clinic: descriptive research. Turkiye Klin J Health Sci. 2022;7(2):320–329. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361080419_Evaluation_of _Malnutrition_Status_and_Effective_Factors_in_Elderly_Patients_in_Internal_Medicine_Clinic_Descriptive_Research [cited 2024 Sep 13].
22. Damayanthi HDWT, Moy FM, Abdullah KL, Dharmaratne SD. Prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among community-dwelling older persons in Sri Lanka: A cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr. 2018;18(1). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327330219 _Prevalence_of_malnutrition_and_associated_factors_among_community-dwelling_older _persons_in_Sri_Lanka_A_cross-sectional_study [cited 2024 Sep 15].
23. Eldardery N, Eldardery A, El-Sayed E, Fouad N. Risk factors of malnutrition among elderly in geriatric homes. 2022;7(5):62–74. Available from: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Risk-Factors-of-Malnutrition-among-Elderly-in-Homes-Eldardery[cited 2024 Sep 15].
24. Singh A, Anuradha P, Narayan M. Nutritional status of institutionalized elderly population of Lucknow city. Int J Adv Res Dev. 2018;3:128–132. Available from: https://www.ijarnd .com/manuscript/nutritional-status-of-institutionalized-elderly-population-of-lucknow-city/ [cited 2024 Sep 15].
25. Moly KT, Monisha U, Aleena Treesa Biju, Feena Shajan. Prevalence of malnutrition and its contributing factors among geriatric patients. J Posit Sch Psychol. 2022;6(9):4529–4536. Available from: https://journalppw.com/index.php/jpsp/article/view/13215 [cited 2024 Sep 15].
26. Olawumi AL, Grema BA, Suleiman AK, Omeiza YS, Michael GC, Shuaibu A. Nutritional status and morbidity patterns of the elderly in a northwestern Nigerian hospital. Niger Postgrad Med J. 2021;28(3):160–168. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication /355478581 _Nutritional_Status_and_Morbidity_Patterns_of_the_Elderly_in_a_Northwestern_Nigerian_Hospital_A_Cross-sectional_Study [cited 2024 Sep 15].