Malnutrition and other factors associated with hospitalization in older adults treated at the naval medical center of Callao - Peru

Purpose

Older adults have a higher risk of malnutrition and hospitalization and, likewise, malnutrition can be a risk factor for hospitalization. The purpose of the present study was to determine the possible association between malnutrition and hospitalization in older adults at the Naval Medical Center “Cirujano Mayor Santiago Távara" in Peru.

Patients and Methods

A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in older adults over 60 years of age attended by the outpatient and Day Clinic during the period 2010–2015. Malnutrition was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment scale. Multivariate analysis of the association between malnutrition and hospitalization with control of confounding variables was performed using a Poisson regression model with robust variance, obtaining an adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR).

Results

The study included 1865 older adults. 58.7% were male, and 46% were between 70 and 80 years of age. 16.3% had malnutrition, 80.6% had at least one emergency department visit, and 35.6% were hospitalized at least once. Multivariate analysis showed a statistically significant association between malnutrition and hospitalization (aPR = 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.56–4.03), as well as between depressive symptoms and hospitalization (aPR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.23–1.93). On the other hand, emergency department visits were associated with a lower frequency of hospitalization (aPR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.54–0.90).

Conclusion

Malnutrition and depressive symptoms were associated with hospitalization in retired naval personnel and their families at the Naval Medical Center, while emergency department visits constituted a protective factor.