Mental illness of the oldest, nutritional status and arterial hypertension

Abstract

Changes in nutritional status and high blood pressure are very common in elderly with mental disorders. Currently, the interest in knowing associated factors to those variables is to prevent morbidity and mortality risk. The study aim was to evaluate the relationship between mental disorders, nutritional status and blood pressure. Its a cross-sectional study in a sample of 99 elderly living in community that had a psychiatric emergency episode. Data were collected from the initial evaluation form (IE). Results show multiple pathologies, cognitive deficits, high blood pressure and change in body mass index (BMI). Conclusions: In most of the sample BMI is associated with several co morbidities and co-exists with a temporal disorientation and arterial hypertension. Prevention is the key to maintaining health and well-being. The changes in body composition associated with the aging process are reflected in increased of fat body mass, at visceral level, and decreased of lean body mass expressed in sarcopenia, decreased of bone mass and decreased of water at the expense of intracellular sector (1). Therefore, the nutrition and health of the elderly have to be framed in an enlarged perspective covering all his life. With aging, come upon changes in eating behavior, which will lead to major differences in the choice of food, influenced in turn by the interaction of several factors: biological, economic, psychological and social ones. The association of changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) with changes in blood pressure predispose the outbreak of severe pathological conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease and kidney failure (2), reasons which pro-active steps are needed. In developed countries, the obvious malnutrition can reach 5-10% of the elderly living in their homes and more than 50% in elderly patients and at the time of hospital discharge (1). As people live longer, the quality of longer life becomes a central issue for personal life and social well-being. Consequently, it is frequent multiple pathologies and also dementia. Dementia is commonly associated with alterations in the nutritional status of which weight loss is the mos t