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Dr Adnan Asghar, Dr Muhammad Zuhaib Rasheed, Dr Sohaib Raza Danish
Objective: Malnutrition, which is a very common condition in the elderly, is known to increase their susceptibility to negative health events. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in the population of the community over 75 years. Methods: Practitioners (GPs) used a short version of the Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA-SF) as a screening tool to study the nutritional status of the elderly (1039 people). The malnutrition was confirmed by biochemical parameters. People at risk of malnutrition or malnutrition (n = 22) have recommended a personalized diet. Results: MNA-SF confirmed that 21% of older people at risk of malnutrition and biochemical tests had a 3.5% incidence of malnutrition. Dietary counseling improved the MNA-SF score and biochemical parameters, but the difference was statistically significant only for the MNA-SF score (P = 0.00613). Conclusion: Malnutrition can be assessed with a simple tool, such as MNA-SF, which is diagnosed at the earliest stage and successfully treated by the attending physician. Key words: malnutrition, free elderly, MNA, dietary advice