Unmasking the Hidden Crisis: A Community-based Assessment of Malnutrition and Its Determinants among Geriatric Populations

Abstract Introduction: Elderly individuals often face other age-related issues, such as non-communicable diseases, mental health problems, and visual difficulties, which contribute to a vicious cycle and increase the financial burden on families and healthcare services. Malnutrition exacerbates physical and mental health problems, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates in this population. Aims and Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition risk and identify its associated socio-demographics and functional determinants among adults aged ≥60 years in an urban community of Punjab using the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the field practice area of a tertiary care hospital. A pre-designed, pre-validated, and pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather data during house-to-house visits. The questionnaire included physical examinations, interviews, and reviews of medical records; sociodemographic details and the MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment) tool were used. Data were analyzed using MS Excel 2021 and Jamovi.