Population-based nutritional risk survey of pensioners in Yerevan, Armenia.
Armenia, a republic of the former Soviet Union, currently suffers from hyperinflation of its currency, a five-year country-wide blockade, and a war with Azerbaijan. Pensioners 60 years of age or older may be at high risk for significant nutritional deficits. We drew a stratified systematic sample (with a random starting point) of 456 pensioner names from all eight administrative regions in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. We administered a questionnaire that gathered data including self-reported weight and height, demographic characteristics, living conditions, medical and dietary history, income, and aid received from various sources. The survey yielded 381 of 456 (84%) completed interviews. Ninety-one percent reported their diet had gotten worse during the past six months, including less variety (83%) and quantity (85%) of food. Seventy-six percent reported they did not have enough money to buy food, and 91% had cut the size of their meals or skipped meals. Forty-five percent reported a weight loss of > or = 5 kg in the previous year. After we adjusted for potential confounders, weight loss of > or = 5 kg was associated with illness affecting eating (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.2, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.4, 3.4), not having received aid (adjusted OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.1, 4.1), and cutting the size of or skipping meals (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.1, 6.7).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
McNabb
S J
SJ
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Welch
K
K
Laumark
S
S
Peterson
D E
DE
Ratard
R C
RC
Toole
M J
MJ
Farley
T A
TA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001136:Armenia; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010415:Pensions; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015431:Weight Loss