Nutritional risk of European elderly.
OBJECTIVE
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.


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, ≥75 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/m(2). 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.
Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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de Morais
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Oliveira
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Afonso
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Lumbers
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Raats
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de Almeida
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001066:Appetite; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003710:Demography; D004032:Diet; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017533:Marital Status; D008409:Mastication; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010465:Perception; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires