Abstract

Anthropometric nutritional evaluation in the elderly. Behavior in ischemic heart disease. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2004, vol.20, n.4. ISSN 0864-2125.

A descriptive cross-sectional research was conducted in a sample of the population aged 60-79 of both sexes in the health area of "Van Troi" Teaching Polyclinic from September 2002 to June 2003. This paper was aimed at determining their nutritional state by using anthropometric variables, such as estimated body mass, waist-hip index and body fat percentage, making a distinction among sexes and age groups, and at finding out the nutritional state in the presence of ischemic heart disease. To obtain data and measurements, a personal interview was made and family and individual medical histories were used. The results showed that the evaluation of the nutritional state by estimated body mass index predominated in male patients suffering from heart disease with acceptable or normal weight and in overweight females. The estimation of the body fat percentage evidenced the predominance of obesity in both sexes in ischemic heart disease. Fat distribution is lower in males suffering from heart disease and higher in females. . Despite the variations observed with age, there were only statistically significant differences in the classification of the nutritional state according to the body fat percentage in females suffering from heart disease.

Keywords : Ischemic heart disease; aged people; nutritional state; anthropometric variables.