Abstract
Background: Nutrition is an essential element of healthiness in aging, the deterioration of nutritional status effects, and is affected by physiological, psychosocial and dietary changes that occur with advanced age. Objectives: This study aims to clarify the correlation between nutritional status and health-related factors, biochemical measurements, and cognitive functions of the elderly participants. Methods: A cross-sectional study in primary health home in Makkah region, KSA, it conducted for four months. After applying the inclusion criteria, fifty-three elderly selected from Taif and Makkah social care home. Participants' information collected from medical record files. In addition, we used two standardized, valid questionnaires; mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and mini-mental state exam (MMSE) by face-to-face interviews. Complete blood count (CBC), total homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels analyzed. Inferential statistics Chi-square (chi(2)) was used to measure the correlation and regression analysis. Results: The data revealed that only 26.41% of the participants in normal nutritional status, there were non-significant differences between genders in MNA. There was a non-significant correlation between MNA and marital status, education level and retirement status of the participants. While, there was a significant correlation between MNA and age categories and anthropometric measurements. There was a significant correlation between MNA and the participants' walkability, hearing, vision status, oral health, and chewing problems. There was no correlation between MNA and the measured biochemical parameters, where most elderly people have poor nutritional status. There was a significant correlation between MNA and MMSE of the participants (P<0.001). Therefore, effective care strategies for improving the nutritional status of the elderly are necessary for enhancing their quality of life.