Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Family Medicine Unit in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) enrolled in a family medicine unit. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Older patients enrolled in the General Hospital of the Zone with Family Medicine No. 2 in Zacapu, Michoacán, Mexico, were included between January and June 2024. The sample size calculation was carried out by applying the formula for a finite population, taking into consideration the total population of 792 patients over 65 years of age with T2DM with a confidence interval of 95% and an error level of 5%, as well as an expected proportion of 50%, obtaining a finite population of 259 participants to be surveyed. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used for nutritional screening, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.843. Descriptive statistics and the χ² test were used to determine associations between categorical variables with a p value <0.05, and SPSS v.23 was used for results analysis. Results: A total of 259 patients were interviewed, with a mean age of 76.36±7.51 years. 155 (59.8%) presented malnutrition, 56 (21.6%) were at risk of malnutrition, and 48 (18.6%) were normal nutritional status. Malnutrition was more frequent in patients with comorbidities, 82 (31.7%) were female, 57 (22.0%) were retired, 76 (29.3%) were married, 60 (23.2%) had secondary education, 76 (29.3%) were in the 75-84 age group, and 115 (44.4%) were normal weight. Conclusions: Malnutrition occurs in a high percentage of older adults with T2DM, and is related to marital status, sex, occupation, education, body mass index (BMI), glycemic control, time since onset of the disease, and comorbidities.