The Inter-relationship Between Nutrition and Infections in Older People: A Review
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Date
2023-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Western Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
Old age is variously described as referring to individuals older than 60 or 65 years of age. The proportion of
elderly patients is steadily on the rise. These elderly individuals have an increased propensity for sickness
and death due to progressive age-related effects in their physical constitution. Increased rates of youth
migration and changes in traditional support for older people predisposes them to the effects of poverty and
socio-economic inequality in our environment. This review sought to evaluate the interconnections between
infection and nutrition amongst the elderly population. A literature search was done for publications
referencing the elderly, infections, and nutrition. The review showed that elderly patients, are predisposed to
infection and malnutrition because of specific changes in the various tissue and organ functions. While the
nutritional requirements reduce in old age, the ability to take in nutrients decreases to a larger degree, leading
to a negative balance in nutrition. Age-related changes in innate and adaptive immunity also predispose
elderly people to different forms of infection. Infection and malnutrition in elderly people create a vicious
cycle feeding into each other to negatively impact on the health and quality of life of this group of people. As
our elderly population increases, we recommend specific attention be paid to the twin problems of infection
and malnutrition, in order to maintain the health status of the elderly
Description
Keywords
Elderly, Infection, Immunity, Malnutrition, Fraility, Old age
Citation
Ibraheem GH, Ibraheem RM. The Inter-relationship Between Nutrition and Infections in Older People: A Review. West J Med & Biomed Sci. 2022;3(3-4):53-57