• Antonia Valenzuela, Lydia Lera, Carlos Márquez, and Cecilia Albala.
• Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
• Rev Med Chil. 2024 Mar 1; 152 (3): 360375360-375.

UnlabelledAging is associated with physiological, economic, and psychological changes that can compromise nutritional and functional status.AimTo determine the nutritional status of institutionalized older people living in a long-term nursing home "Fundación las Rosas" (FLR), the largest long-stay establishment in Chile, in 2019, and its relationship with functionality.MethodsDescriptive study of analysis of secondary data in 1646 older adults institutionalized in FLR (60% women). The information collected was weight, height, Body mass index (BMI), Barthel Index, Mini-Mental State Examination, area, macrozone, sex, age, and date of admission to FLR. Logistic regression models of functionality and nutritional status, unadjusted and adjusted, were performed.ResultsThe percentage of normal-weight people was 40.3%; 38.1% presented some degree of malnutrition due to deficit, and 9.5% presented severe malnutrition (BMI≤18.5 kg/m2). 70% of people present total dependency. The low educational level reached 73%. Logistic regressions determined that people who were overweight, 70 years of age or older, had a low level of education, and cognitive impairment were positively associated with dependency, excluding bedridden people, with the strongest associations being not having any level of schooling and having cognitive impairment. The persons of low weight, with cognitive impairment, and with a low educational level were positively associated with institutionalized bedridden elderly, the strongest associations being not having any level of schooling and having cognitive impairment.ConclusionsIn this study, malnutrition due to deficit and excess are positively associated with decreased functionality, and a low educational level is associated with dependency and being bedridden.

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