90% users of a residence have malnutrition

A study published in the Balearic Islands Aging Yearbook 2025, which was presented this Thursday, has revealed malnutrition in 90% of users from a residence for the elderly in Mallorca.

The research is signed by the doctor specializing in Geriatrics and Gerontology Oriol Miralles and also confirms this prevalence of malnutrition with sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass associated with aging) and functional and cognitive deterioration, with increased risk of clinical deterioration.

It also warns that despite the incidence of malnutrition, it is detected a low rate of nutritional supplementation, especially in mild stages, which shows the lack of systematic screening and a preventive approach.

In the opinion of the expert, the results of the study, which was carried out in the Son Caulelles Residencejustify the implementation of a structured intervention model, with general measures, adapted actions and monitoring protocols based on criteria from the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) to improve the nutritional and functional status of residents.

In more detail, it reinforces the need to improve environments and meal times, as well as the incorporation of enriched and adapted diets, as well as supplementation programs according to the severity of malnutrition.

Population, sample and results

The sample was composed of 72 residents institutionalized without exclusion criteria, since a cross-section of prevalence was carried out with all users of the center.

The average age of the participants was 84.3 years with a predominance of women (79.2 percent). The degree of functional dependency was classified according to the Law for the Promotion of Personal Autonomy and Care for People in a Situation of Dependency, observing a predominance of grade III (93.1 percent), the maximum degree of dependency.

According to the main results, 90.3% of the residents in the sample had malnutrition, of which 66.7% were classified as having malnutrition. mild-moderate and 31.9% with severe malnutrition. Only 8.3% of the residents did not show criteria for malnutrition.

Malnutrition was observed with a high frequency in all grades of functional dependency, especially among residents with moderate (45.8% of the mildly malnourished and 47.8% of the severely) and severe (27.1% and 30.4%, respectively) dependency. No malnourished residents showed functional independence. Regarding distribution by sex, the majority of malnourished residents were women, consistent with the predominance of women in the sample.

The study points at the same time to the relationship between malnutrition and sarcopeniasince 97% of the sample was diagnosed with loss of muscle mass and of these, 90% presented malnutrition.

For their part, all residents presented some degree of cognitive impairment, with a clear concentration in moderate (29%) and severe (64%) degrees. The prevalence of malnutrition increases with the degree of cognitive impairment. Thus, 38% of residents with moderate deterioration and 44% of those with severe deterioration were malnourished.

This point suggests, according to the study, that the cognitive deficit It can make adequate intake difficult, especially in advanced stages.

Regarding oral nutritional supplementation, research shows that only 25% of residents with mild-moderate malnutrition received supplements, while this proportion rose to 56.5% in cases of severe malnutrition.

This difference reveals a partially adequate response to nutritional risk, but still insufficient in the less serious stages, according to the expert.