Abstract

Author(s): Silva, Gabriela Avelino da1; Silva, Gabriella Dias da2; Cabral, Ana Maria Bezerra de Oliveira2; Santiago, Emerson Rogério Costa3; Araújo, Evilaine Ramos de Siqueira1; Rosa, �?rica Patrícia Cunha1; Medeiros, Géssica Cazuza de1; Silva, Jéssica Andresa Bezerra da1

Objective: To assess the nutritional status and functional capacity of elderly oncology admitted to a university hospital in Recife, Pernambuco.

Methods: Cross-sectional study developed with individuals with cancer, male and female, aged ≥ 60 years. For the identification of the nutritional status, the mini nutritional assessment was applied, followed by the anthropometric evaluation and manual grip strength, and finally the functional capacity was evaluated. Statistical analyzes were performed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 21.0. The level of significance was 5% (p ≤ 0.05).

Results: Fifty-one elderly people participated in the research, in which the majority were male, had cancer of the reproductive system. Malnutrition and the risk of malnutrition by the mini nutritional assessment were present in 7.8% and 33.4%, respectively. Most of the elderly did not present malnutrition due to anthropometric evaluation. The hand strength of both men and women was considered to be adequate for the most part, and a very weak correlation was observed between manual grip strength and the age of both sexes. Among the elderly, 70.6% were classified as functional dependents. The functional performance was positively associated with the mini nutritional assessment, the body mass index and the calf circumference.

Conclusion: The findings showed a high prevalence of nutritional risk and considerable malnutrition through mini nutritional assessment. Regarding functional capacity, most of the elderly had functional dependence in at least one basic daily life activity. Emphasizing the need to evaluate and monitor the nutritional status as well as the functional capacity of hospitalized geriatric oncologists.