We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
RISK TO MALNUTRITION OF THE ELDERLY POPULATION IN TALLINN.
- Authors
Saava, Merileid; Abina, Jelena; Laane, Peeter; Solodkaya, Eleonora; Tchaico, Lidia
- Abstract
In the randomly chosen cohort of the elderly (aged 65-74 years) in Tallinn the MNA-test was used in 411 cases (228 men and 183 women). All the participants were divided into two groups by the MNA results: (1) the normal -- well-nourished group consisted of 178 men (79 %) and 139 women (76%) that were not at risk for malnutrition; (2) the group at the risk of malnutrition consisted of 50 men (21%) and 44 women (24%): with MNA scores 17 to 23.5 as at the risk of malnutrition (18% men and 22% women) and MNA <17 points as undernourished. The aim of our paper was to analyse and find out which differences exist between the elderly who are well-nourished or at risk of malnutrition in their anthropometrics, biochemical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, depression (by GDS-15) and nutrition (by 24-hour recall); correlation analyses were used to determine the relationship between variables. The prevalence of risk to malnutrition estimated by the MNA-test (MNA 17-23.5) reached one fifth of the elderly population (21% men and 24% women). The mean value of the MNA score of the risk-group (20.4 ±2.8) was on average by 7 points lower from the well-nourished elderly (27.6 ±1.6, p<0.0001), equally both in men and women. Differences between normal and risk groups (lower values in the risk group) were significant for the body weight (the difference was 17.2 and 15.3 kg for men and women respectively), body fat mass (8.8 and 9.5 kg), skin fold thickness, waist, hip and arm circumference. The decreased muscle mass in the risk group was expressed by a smaller circumference of the arm muscles and calf circumference, in addition by the lower hands' power. In the risk group the heart rate was higher and the blood pressure tended to be lower. In our study depression appeared to be one of risk factors to the malnutrition group (the correlation between MNA and depression scores was positive and highly significant); the mean of depression scores in the risk-group (5.27 ± 3.18) was higher than in the well-nourished group (3.19 ± 2.86); by that most depressive were the elderly women at risk (5.80 ± 3.30). From correlation analyses with nutrition appeared negative associations of depression scores with food energy, alcohol consumption, animal protein and animal fat intakes (g), dietary cholesterol, vitamins (E, B1, B2, PP) and minerals (Mg, P, Fe, Zn) content in the diet; positive associations appeared with vegetable proteins (E%), carbohydrate (E%), starch (E%), dietary fiber (mg/1000kcal). At the same time the MNA score itself had very few associations with nutrition data -- the only negative correlation with calories and carbohydrates (per kg body mass). From the biochemical part of the research: the mean levels of Tg, TC, LDL-C and glucose were significantly lower in the risk group (with low MNA scores), in both in men and women. These indices together reflect the higher risk to the metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in the well-nourished elderly with the higher MNA scores. The comparison of risk and norm groups did not show any difference for the homocysteine level in serum, at the same time depression scale scores had a highly significant correlation to the homocysteine level in the serum of the elderly population. By correlation analyses the values of homocysteine were higher in the elderly with higher BMI, body fat (kg) and serum creatinine, but not with higher or lower MNA scores.
- Subjects
ESTONIA; MALNUTRITION risk factors; NUTRITION disorders in old age; GERIATRIC nutrition; ANTHROPOMETRY; CARDIOVASCULAR diseases in old age; DEPRESSION in old age; NUTRITIONAL assessment
- Publication
Papers on Anthropology, 2006, Vol 15, p197
- ISSN
1406-0140
- Publication type
Article