Abstracto

Health and Nutritional status of elderly people in selected area of Dhaka city: a cross-sectional study

Taslima Khatun

Anthropometric data height and weight of the study subjects were collected by using standard techniques. Nutritional status was measured according to WHO guideline. χ 2 test and logistic regression was performed as P<0.05 level of significance. Statistical analyses were performed by appropriate univariate and multivariate techniques using SPSS windows 11.5. Most of the subjects belong to 60-65yrs age groups. More than half of them were overweight while one third were obese and no one was in underweight. Maximum respondents ate regular meal 3 times a day. Digestive status of the study population was mostly good and minimum had lost their good digestion power. More than half of the respondent had different type of disease like diabetes, respiratory problem, CVD, hypertension, asthma, arthritis, stroke, eye problem etc. Most of the respondents were taken rice either once a day or twice a day. About half of the subjects took beef 1-2 times per week. Significant association was found between level of education and nutritional status. Logistic regression revealed that presence of disease (during study period) was found significant association with nutritional status [OR (95% CI): 2.21 (0.335–1.325) p=0.004] and presence of chronic disease was also found significant association with nutritional status [OR (95% CI): 3.33 (0.172–1.224) p=0.004] among elderly of the study subjects. In conclusion, urban elderly especially affluent society facing the risk of over nutrition. More than half of the respondent suffered different type of diseases. Most of them are suffering from diabetes mellitus.