Associations between nutritional status and abdominal adiposity with cognitive domains and depressive symptoms in older persons with multimorbidity: Understanding an understudied population.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is a prevalent issue among older persons and has been linked to adverse outcomes. Limited information exists regarding its connection with cognition and depression in older persons burdened by chronic diseases, experiencing heightened nutritional and psychosocial vulnerability. In this study, we examined the association between nutritional status, cognitive performance, and depressive symptomatology, in a cohort of older persons with multimorbidity. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 114 pluripathological older persons. Nutritional status was assessed through Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), body mass index (BMI) and waist and calf circumferences. Cognition was assessed using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and depressive symptoms were measured with the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). RESULTS: MNA score was positively correlated with the MoCA's visuospatial score (rho=0.262) and, participants with normal nutritional status according to MNA, performed better in orientation (p=0.037) and abstraction (p=0.013) domains. MNA was also associated with depressive symptoms, with odds 8.6 times higher in malnourished participants (AOR 8.6, 95% CI 2.6-28.8, p=0.000). Abdominal obesity, meanwhile, was associated with a decrease of 3.33 points in the overall MoCA score (ß -3.33, 95% CI=-5.92; -0.73, p=0.013). CONCLUSION: In older persons with multimorbidity, abdominal obesity and malnutrition were factors associated with lower global and domain-specific cognitive performance and increased depressive symptomatology.

Frecuencia del maltrato y homicidio infantil en Medellín (Colombia)

RESUMEN Introducción: El maltrato y el homicidio infantil se destacan dentro del espectro de la violencia intrafamiliar por las consecuencias severas que generan en la salud, el desarrollo socioeconómico de una región y en la calidad de vida de los menores y sus familiares. Objetivo: Caracterizar el maltrato físico, sexual y los homicidios ejercidos hacia los niños y niñas menores de doce años, ocurridos en el contexto familiar en Medellín, Colombia, durante 2010-2015. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal. Se realizó un análisis estadístico descriptivo de la ocurrencia de los eventos violentos intrafamiliares en menores de doce años atendidos por el Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses en la ciudad de Medellín. Resultados: Se reportaron 3 519 casos de maltrato físico y sexual infligido a menores de doce años dentro del contexto familiar. 56,9 % de los hechos corresponden a maltrato sexual, siendo las mujeres las principales víctimas de este tipo de abuso; por su parte los hombres fueron los más afectados por maltrato físico. Los menores entre los seis y once años son los más maltratados. Se reportaron nueve casos de homicidio, de los cuales siete fueron cometidos contra mujeres y cinco de estos fueron perpetrados por el padrastro de las víctimas. Conclusiones: El maltrato infantil intrafamiliar ha sido un problema persistente en la ciudad de Medellín, y esto lo demuestra el alto número de casos registrados. No obstante, aunque los reportes de homicidio infantil han sido pocos, no se deben subestimar dada la importancia y las grandes consecuencias que esto presenta para la sociedad.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Child abuse and homicide are highlighted in the spectrum of intrafamily violence due to the severe consequences they generate on health, the economic and social development of a region and the quality of life of children and their families. Objective: characterize the physical and sexual abuse, and homicide exercised against children under twelve years old, occurred in the family context in Medellin Colombia, during 2010-2015. Methodology: Descriptive study, retrospective and cross-sectional. It was made a descriptive statistical analysis of the occurrence of intrafamily violent events attended by the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Medellín. Results: 3,519 cases of physical and sexual abuse inflicted on children under twelve years old within the family context were reported. Of these, 56.9% of the events correspond to sexual abuse and women are the main victims of this type of abuse; men are the most affected in physical abuse. Children between six and eleven years old are the most vulnerable. Nine cases of homicide were reported, of which seven were committed against women and five of these were perpetrated by the victims' stepfather. Conclusions: Intrafamily child abuse is a persistent problem in Medellín, and this is demonstrated by the high cases recorded. However, there have been few cases of child homicide, this does not diminish the importance and the number should not be underestimated, because of the enormous consequences they have for society.