EVOLUTION OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE FRAIL ELDERLY PEOPLE IN PRIMARY CARE.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the evolution of nutritional status in frail elderly people in primary care. MATERIAL METHODS: Design: Observational study longitudinal. Cohort of 135 frail elderly people attended nutritional risk in an urban health center. Measurements: Anthropometric Indices (index body mass [BMI], brachial perimeter [PB], perimeter of calf [PP], [WBC] arm triceps [PT], muscle circumference crease) and functional status (Barthel index). We differentiate between protein malnutrition, caloric or mixed and mild (p50-p25), moderate (p25-p10) or severe (< p10). We offer individual intervention in malnutrition. We carry out measurements every 6 months (2003-2014), comparing the first eight: paired Student‘s T. Alpha error 0.05. Statistical analysis: 22.0 SPSS RESULTS Initial mean age was 82.41 +/-0.66 years, 67.4% women. In baseline measurement was obtained: Barthel 70.12 +/-2.85, BMI 22.82 +/-0.35, PT14.39 +/-0.57, PB 23.50 +/-0.26, WBC 19.18 +/-0.24, PP 30.36 +/-0.31. Basal malnutrition 77.77%; being 32.71% protein, 24.29% caloric, 42.99% mixed. Mild 52.38% moderate 40% and 7.6% severe. 8 º measurement: malnutrition 68.75% (30,43% protein, 17.39% caloric and 52.12% mixed, slight 37.5%, moderate 50% and severe 12.5%). After eight evaluations (tracking 39.66 months) average significant decrease in BMI: 1.76+0.67 points (CI 95% = 0, 38-3, 13) (p < 0.014) and the Barthel: 18.06 +4.01 points (CI 95% = 9, 86-26, 26) (p < 0.0001) without significant changes in other variables. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant percentage of malnutrition in the frail elderly people. Individual intervention only maintains the nutritional status but does not improve it. The BMI and the functional grade worsen over time.