RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SELF-REPORTED NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES WITH THE RISK OF FALL IN INDEPENDENT AND SLIGHT DEPENDENT OLDER PERSONS

Abstract

Study Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the risk of falls with nutritional deficit in institutionalized and non-institutionalized older adults in elderly people in the city of Arica, Chile, during 2019. Materials and methods: The study is a cross-sectional correlational design; Participants: 170 people between men and women aged 60 - 80 years. Mean age 74.6 years. Measurements of nutritional status and risk of falling were performed. Results: According to the sub-category of nutritional status, 7,6 % of all participants were malnourished, 38,4 % were normal and only 53,8 %. Malnourished, with respect to the sub-category obtained from the TUG, there was no significant difference (p = 0,05), 52,3 % were normal, 9,5 % were high risk and 38,1 % were at slight risk. The interaction of both frequencies does not produce a significant difference. Conclusion: In this study we were able to see the existence of self-reported nutritional deficits in the risk of falls in self-reported older adults with mild dependence, moderate: the longer the age of the older adult, the greater the risk of falls and nutritional deficits.