Nutritional and cardiovascular risk in older adults

Diana K. Gallegos-Rodríguez, Licenciatura en Nutrición y Salud, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, México
José J. Rivera-Sánchez, Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital General de México “Dr Eduardo Liceaga”, Mexico City, Mexico
Vanessa Fuchs-Tarlovky, Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital General de México “Dr Eduardo Liceaga”, Mexico City, Mexico
María D. Arias-Soberón, Clinical nutrition, Hospital General de México “Dr Eduardo Liceaga”, Mexico City, Mexico
Karolina Alvarez-Altamirano, Nutrition and metabolism Research Unit, Hospital General de México “Dr Eduardo Liceaga”; Clinical nutrition, Hospital General de México “Dr Eduardo Liceaga”. Mexico City, Mexico

Background: Malnutrition is highly prevalent, often underrecognized in older adults, and may coexist with cardiovascular risk (CR). Traditional anthropometric indicators may not adequately capture this relationship. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nutritional risk and to analyze its coexistence with CR in outpatient older adults. Method: A cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted in outpatient older adults. Nutritional status was assessed using the full Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). CR was evaluated using anthropometric methods. Statistical analyses included Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation. Results: From 96 clinical records collected, 49% (n = 47) were at nutritional risk and 5.2% (n = 5) were malnourished by MNA. Body weight and body mass index were significantly lower in the groups of nutritional risk (p < 0.05). Calf circumference < 31 cm was frequent in the nutritional risk group (30.2% vs. 9.3%). CR was present in both groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Nutritional risk is common among outpatient older adults and may coexist with CR independently of traditional anthropometric assessment.

Keywords: Nutritional risk. Mini nutritional assessment. Older adults. Anthropometry. Cardiovascular risk.