Malnutrition may decrease physical function and exacerbate health conditions and thus have a negative effect on health-related quality of life of older people.

The study was aimed at evaluating the extent of malnutrition, physical function and other associated risk factors for the older persons (>65 years) living in the residential aged care facilities in Bangladesh.

A cross-sectional study was performed with a sample of 200 older people in various residential aged care facilities in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the socioeconomic condition, dietary diversity, functional ability and other related risk factors for malnutrition.

According to the Mini Nutritional Assessment, 33.5% of participants living in residential aged care facilities were malnourished and 52.5% were at risk of malnutrition. Dietary diversity score differs significantly (p<0.001) among malnourished (3.78 ± 0.45), at risk of malnutrition (4.46 ± 0.98) and well-nourished (4.75 ± 1.11) groups. Twenty-five percent of the study participants reported limitations in mobility and 26.5% reported limitations in activities of daily living. Females were more vulnerable in terms of malnutrition and physical function than males. Mini Nutritional Assessment score is significantly correlated (p<0.05) with several risk factors for malnutrition such as body mass index, education level, meal, protein consumption, dietary diversity score, weight loss, reduced food intake, mobility and activities of daily living of the older people.

The study reaffirms that a high rate of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition is prevalent among aged care residents, who need special attention and may benefit from individualized nutrition interventions.