The Inter-relationship Between Nutrition and Infections in Older People: A Review

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.