Association between nutritional status and mental health among elderly in community health screenings: a cross sectional study

This research article examines the substantial impact of nutritional status on the mental health of the elderly population in Malaysia, which is projected to reach 15% by 2030. The study was conducted through a cross-sectional analysis among 361 elderly participants attending community health screenings in Kuala Selangor District from June to October 2024. Utilizing the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA®-SF) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), the study assessed the prevalence of mental health issues and their correlation with nutritional status. The findings revealed prevalence rates of 12.7% for depression, 9.4% for anxiety, and 4.2% for stress. Notably, being at risk of malnutrition significantly increased the odds of experiencing depression (AOR = 10.94, 95% CI = 4.35–27.52), anxiety (AOR = 11.16, 95% CI = 4.10–30.41), and stress (AOR = 5.03, 95% CI = 1.55–16.34). Additionally, malnutrition was associated with a markedly higher likelihood of depression (AOR = 45.61, 95% CI = 13.20–157.61) and anxiety (AOR = 17.80, 95% CI = 4.93–64.32). Other factors such as female sex, reduced social engagement, smoking status, physical activity levels, retirement, and sleep issues were also linked to mental health outcomes. The study underscores the critical relationship between nutritional status and mental health challenges in the elderly, advocating for early identification and targeted interventions to enhance mental well-being in this demographic. [NPID: malnutrition, elderly, stress, depression, anxiety]

Year: 2025

Reference: Nassir, N. A., Yaacob, S. S., Tarmizi, N. A. A., & et al. (2025). Association between nutritional status and mental health among elderly in community health screenings: A cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatrics, 25, 739. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06394-7

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