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Determinants of the nutritional status of older adults in urban L ebanon
Author(s) -
Mitri Rosy,
Boulos Christa,
Adib Salim M
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.12732
Subject(s) - medicine , socioeconomic status , malnutrition , body mass index , gerontology , cross sectional study , depressive symptoms , demography , environmental health , population , anxiety , pathology , psychiatry , sociology
Aim To assess the nutritional status, and its association with sociodemographic factors, health and functional status of community‐dwelling older adults living in the G reater B eirut area. Methods This was a cross‐sectional study involving 905 randomly selected community dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years living in G reater B eirut ( B eirut and surrounding suburbs). Participants completed a standardized questionnaire on sociodemographic factors, health characteristics, and functional and nutritional status, based on the M ini N utritional A ssessment. Results Among the older adults who participated in the study, 2.8% (95% CI 0.01–0.03) were malnourished, and 45.5% (95% CI 0.42–0.48) were at risk of malnutrition. Sociodemographic variables were not associated with the nutritional status. Variables significantly associated with poorer nutritional status were: poor perception of general health ( OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.28–1.97), more chronic diseases ( OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.26–3.33), poor perception of oral health ( OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.14–1.61), depressive disorders ( OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.30–2.40), higher body mass index ( OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.67–2.34) and disability ( OR 5.80, 95% CI 1.96–17.11). Conclusions The present study showed an unacceptable risk of malnutrition among Lebanese older adults, independent of age, sex and socioeconomic status. The presence of comorbidities, treated or not, affecting general and oral health emerged as major determinants of poor nutrition. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 424–432.