Weight loss and malnutrition in patients with Alzheimer disease in Fortaleza - CE

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status and body weight changes in patients with Alzheimer disease treated at a specialized clinic in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. Methods: This is a comparative cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, whichinvolved elderly with and without Alzheimer disease, treated at a specialized clinic during the month of March 2009. To assess the nutritional status, we used the Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire (MAN) and the Body Mass Index (BMI) classification proposed by Lipschitz, while the weight change was investigated by a pre-established form. Results: We analyzed 58 elderly men and women, being 29 with Alzheimer disease (Group 1) and 29 without the disease (Group 2). The weight loss was the most frequently weight change reported by the two groups, and the percentage was higher in group 1 (62.1%, n = 18) than in group 2 (44.8%, n = 13). The group 1 presented a higher prevalence of risk of malnutrition accordingto MAN (55.2%, n = 16) and all patients classified as malnourished by BMI (20.7%, n = 6). Conclusion: It is observed, therefore, that the weight loss and malnutrition are present in the reality in question, indicating the importance of early nutritional monitoring in Alzheimerdisease.

Keywords

• Alzheimer Disease
• Nutritional Status
• Body Weight Changes.