Hemoglobin and Nutritional Status among the Elderly in Selected Rural Area of Bangladesh

Aims: To assess the hemoglobin levels and nutritional status of selected elderly people.

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Ushayer Hatra village, Mohanpur, Rajshahi, Bangladesh and Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, over an one month period.

Methodology: Sixty elderly participants (40 males, 20 females; age range 60-95 years) were included, all being non-hospitalized, non-smoker, non-alcoholic and no one having any history of recent major blood loss. Hb analysis was done by Cyanmethemoglobin method. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight and mid upper arm circumference) were taken following standard measurement guidelines of the World Health Organization. Socio-economic data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire.

Results: The mean (±SD) Hb content was higher in males than females (11.87 (±1.50) g/dL in males and 10.16 (±1.04) g/dL in females) and the difference was highly statistically significant (P < .0005). Low Hb levels (<13 g/dL in males and <12 g/dL in females) in 67.5% male and 95.0% female participants were observed. The mean BMI of males and females were 21.76 kg/m2 and 22.58 kg/m2 respectively. Fifty percent female and 57.5% male participants were in normal body weight (BMI=18.5-24.9 kg/m2). The Mean value of MUAC were 27.13 cm in males and 25.14 cm in females. Based on MUAC, 90.0% male and 75.0% female participants had normal nutritional status (MUAC ≥ 23.5 cm in males and ≥ 22 cm in females). The association between BMI and MUAC categories of the participants were found to be statistically significant in both groups (P =.049 and .001 in male and female groups respectively).

Conclusion: Most of the study participants had low hemoglobin levels but normal nutritional status. However, further studies with considerable sample size are required to determine the prevalence of anemia and malnutrition among the elderly people of Bangladesh.