Assessment of the nutritional condition of over 65s in community pharmacies

Objectives: To assess the nutritional condition of over 65s with diabetes that go community pharmacies, and compare it to individuals without diabetes.

Method: Observational-transversal study in Spanish pharmacies by pharmacists that are SEFAC partners, from November 9 to December 9 2015. Inclusion criteria: ≥65 years old, in two groups: diabetic and non-diabetic. Variables: anthropometric characteristics, floor-knee distance (cm), brachial circumference (cm), calf circumference (cm), diabetes (YES/NO) and nutritional condition (Mini Nutritional Assessment).

Results: 1078 elderly; 652 (60.5%) women, 75.5±7.4 years old; 461 (42.8%) diabetic. 73.4% overweight/obese. BMI=28.6±4.8 with no significant differences between genders; higher in diabetics (29.0±4.8 vs. 28.3±4.8 p=0.0173). 7.5% of diabetics presented symptoms of malnutrition vs. 6.5% of non-diabetics. 39.2% of diabetics at risk of malnutrition vs. 29.8% of non-diabetics. There were more women at risk of malnutrition and/or presenting symptoms of malnutrition than men (46.3% vs. 32.4% p>0.0001). Higher in diabetic women than in non-diabetic women (52.4% vs. 39.3% p=0.0075). 73.1% of diabetics believe they suffer from nutritional issues vs. 80.7% of non-diabetics p=0.0132. 30.0% of diabetics believe their health is better vs. 45.9% of non-diabetics.

Conclusions: Eighty-two percent of over 65s present symptoms of malnutrition and/or are at risk of malnutrition; the rate is higher among diabetics than non-diabetics and among women than men. Three in every four over 65s are overweight or obese; the rate is higher in men than women and in diabetics than non-diabetics.