SERUM FERRITIN AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN OLDER ADULTS AT ELDERCARE FACILITIES

To identify serum ferritin levels and their association with nutritional status determined by Body Mass índex in older adults at four eldercare facilities. Methods: an exploratory, cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 older adults residing at eldercare facilities in colima, Mexico. association between blood serum ferritin levels and nutritional status determined by Body Mass índex was evaluated. Ferritin levels were determined by means of chemiluminescence of blood samples obtained from subjects under control conditions. descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic characteristics. student’s t test and chi-square test were used to compare ferritin levels and Body Mass índex, respectively, between sexes. statistical significance was considered to exist when P≤ 0.05. Pearson’s correlation was used to establish the relation between Body Mass índex and serum ferritin levels. Results: Mean serum ferritin levels were 59.9489 ng/ml in women and 86.9266 ng/ml in men (P= 0.12). ín regard to Body Mass índex there was statistical significance between normal vs overweight/obesity (P = 0.008), but not between normal vs underweight (P = 0.34). Body Mass índex/serum ferritin correlation was not statistically significant (Pearson’s r = 0.003). Conclusions: The quantification of a single serum indicator is insufficient for determining nutritional status in the older adult