Abstract Body

Introduction: undernutrition among elderly is one of the most common public health problems. This study aimed to dertemine the frequency of undernutrition across different health-care settings and to assess the nutritional status and predictors of undernutrition among older adults (> = 65 years).

Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Region of Monastir Tunisia. It consists in studying, either in Community, in the Hospital, or in residential Care, a sample of people aged 65 years and over. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, health and lifestyle factors, and the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) score were collected using structured questionnaires via face-to-face interviews.

Results: A total of 130 older adults were included. The mean age of the study population was 73.1 ± 6.82 years ranging from 65 to 90. The prevalence of undernutrition was around 29.4% in community dwelling adults, 15% in home care residents, and 56% in hospitals.

In univariate analysis, age, marital status, hospitalization, loss of autonomy, risk of depression as well as poor oral health all negatively influenced the nutritional status. Multivariate analysis identified the loss of autonomy as well as the risk of depression as independent predictors associated with nutritional status and therefore the quality of life of seniors.

Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of undernutrition among elderly patients, nutritional problems are not yet acknowledged by health professionals as a priority for the elderly. The need for nutritional assessments and interventions is particularly crucial in this age group.