Abstract

Author(s): Forte Rocha,

Introduction: Aging is characterized by the loss of the function of various organs and systems. It is a significant number of elderly included in the Institutes of Long Term Elderly (LTCF), whose nutritional status can be considered critical. Ignorance of the nutritional situation of the elderly in Brazil requires new investigations for improvement of service delivery.

Objective: To describe the nutritional status from different anthropometric methods are not widely used in older who reside in a Long Term Care Institutions of Recife, PE.

Methods: We conducted a study of the analytical cross-sectional August to November 2014 the collection and analysis of anthropometric data of 30 women aged 84 ± 7.9 years LTCF residents in Recife was performed. We carried out the Student t test to compare the means of the study variables.

Results: According to anthropometric measurements performed in calf circumference was the parameter that showed the highest percentage of elderly with malnutrition, while the arm circumference showed higher percentages of normal weight. In the calf classification with other anthropometric variables, the results indicated that the lower the value of the calf circumference, greater nutritional impairment is observed in other anthropometric parameters. Using the body mass index as nutritional diagnostic parameter, associations with circumferences measures of calf, arm and waist were observed.

Conclusion: The evaluation of the elderly still has limitations and the need to involve more than one anthropometric parameter it is necessary to obtain a more reliable diagnosis