Nutritional risk of European elderly

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Morais, Cecília de (Author) FCNAUP; Oliveira, Bruno (Author) FCNAUP; Afonso, Cláudia (Author) FCNAUP; Lumbers, M. (Author) Other; Raats, M. (Author) Other; Almeida, Maria Daniel Vaz de (Author) FCNAUP

Journal

Title: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Vol. 67 No. 11

Pages: 1215-1219

ISSN: 0954-3007

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 71 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 82 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Health sciences

CORDIS: Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-GHB

DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.175

Abstract (EN): BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The elderly constitute a population group with a high prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases and high risk of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated to nutritional risk in free-living European elderly. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The sample included 644 European citizens, free living in the community, aged 65 years or more. The sample was quota controlled for age groups (65–74, X75 years), gender (male/female) and living circumstances (living alone/with others). Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with nutritional risk. RESULTS: Several variables regarding socio-demographic characteristics, food choice, health status and the satisfaction with food-related life were included in the analysis. According to the recoded score of the ‘Determine your nutritional health’ (NSI checklist), 53% of the elderly were at nutritional risk. Nutritional risk was more likely to occur in elderly who considered that it was more important to choose foods ‘easy to chew’; with lower average number of fruit and vegetables (F&V) intake episodes and lower score for general health. It was also found in non-married participants; those that did not identify changes in their appetite; and those that felt changes in health status. In this sample, the lowest nutritional risk was found for body mass index (BMI) around 18.5 kg/m2. Country of residence, gender and age were not found to have a significant effect on nutritional risk. CONCLUSIONS: Attention should be drawn to the living circumstances, changes in appetite or health, the general heath perception, F&V intake, choice of foods easy to chew and having a low or high BMI.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: <a href="http://gateway.isiknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=WOS&DestLinkType=FullRecord&KeyUT=:000326666300018">Indexado na ISI Web of Science</a>