# Cardiovascular Risk Factors as Predictors of Nutritional Status in Older Mexican Adults

## TL;DR

This study explores how cardiovascular risk factors predict nutritional status in older Mexican adults, finding that hypertriglyceridemia and systolic hypertension are linked to malnutrition risk.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific cardiovascular risk factors as predictors of nutritional risk in older adults in Mexico, contributing to targeted health interventions.

## Key findings

- Hypertriglyceridemia and systolic hypertension are independent predictors of malnutrition risk in older adults.
- Age over 80 years and elementary school education are also associated with increased nutritional risk.
- Timely evaluations using the MNA tool can help prevent illness and reduce mortality in this population.

## Abstract

Aging is commonly accompanied by increased cardiovascular risk and diet plays a crucial role in health condition. The aim of this study was to determine cardiovascular risk factors as predictors of nutritional risk in Mexican older adults. A cross-sectional study on Mexican patients aged ≥60 years with cardiovascular risk factors affiliated with a medical unit in Northeast Mexico was performed from July to December 2021. The nutritional risk evaluations were performed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire. After a multivariate analysis, the cardiovascular risk factors identified as independent predictors of risk of malnutrition were hypertriglyceridemia (adjusted OR (AOR): 1.8; 95% CI: 1.03–3.14; p = 0.04) and systolic hypertension I (AOR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.04–5.02; p = 0.041); age over 80 years (AOR: 5.17; 95% CI: 1.83–14.65, p = 0.002) and elementary school education (AOR: 2.34; 95% CI: 1.20–4.55; p = 0.013) were also related. The cross-sectional design and single-center approach of this study limits the generalizability of the results; however, conducting timely evaluations of blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and risk of malnutrition using the MNA tool for patients aged ≥60 years could prevent illness and reduce mortality within this population group.