REVIEWS   

Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 2008 September;54(3):295-306

Copyright © 2008 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Nutritional assessment of elderly people

Cena H., Madini N., Zaccardo A., Rondanelli M., Roggi C.

¹ Section of Human Nutrition Department of Health Applied Sciences University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy 2 Azienda dei Servizi alla Persona di Pavia Pavia, Ital

Since today’s society is characterised by an increase in the number of elderly persons, who are subject more than any other group to an alteration in their state of nutrition, in this review we propose the possible methods that can be used for an accurate nutritional diagnosis in this age group. Considering that malnutrition, sarcopenia and motor disability are factors that are more likely to occur with aging, it is extremely important for certain clinical anamnestic parameters, such as biohumoral and anthropometric indicators, but also specific tables and questionnaires, to become standard routine practice in health care in order to facilitate the diagnosis of these possible events.