Assessment of the nutritional status of the elderly in Guinea and associated factors

Abstract

Descriptive data on the nutritional status of the elderly in Africa are rare and very incomplete. The first objective of this thesis was to clarify, through a literature review covering the period 1960-2019, the prevalence of undernutrition and overweight in Africa, as well as possible links with the Human Development Index (HDI). The prevalence of undernutrition was high (20.9%) and the prevalence of obesity (13.2%) had increased compared with partial results from 2001. The positive association of overweight and obesity with the HDI suggested that the nutritional transition was underway across the continent. All this suggested that the African continent could be exposed in the coming years to harmful consequences in terms of health, human and financial costs. Preventive action was therefore urgently needed. Specifically in Guinea Conakry, there is very limited screening and management of nutritional disorders in the elderly. A population-based cross-sectional study of community-dwelling people aged 60 and over was therefore carried out to assess their nutritional status and associated factors. The study included 1,698 people (age: 71.6 ± 9.4 years, male: 63.5%, Body Mass Index: 22.6 ± 4.4 kg/m², prevalence of undernutrition: 14%, overweight: 19%, obesity: 6%). Men appeared to be more at risk of undernutrition and women more at risk of overweight or obesity; living in a rural area appeared to put people at risk of undernutrition, and living in an urban area at risk of obesity; the standardised prevalence ratio (SPR) indicated which regions of the country were most affected by one or other nutritional disorder. Poor visual acuity and oral disorders were risk factors for undernutrition. These results should provide better guidance for screening, prevention and management of nutritional disorders in the elderly in Guinea.