title: Social and economic correlates of malnutrition in Polish elderly population: the results of PolSenior study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition in Polish elderly population and analyse its social and economic correlates based on the data from the PolSenior project, the first large-scale study of a representative group of Polish seniors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional population-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  All territorial provinces in Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  4482 community-dwelling respondents aged 65 years or above (women: n=2142, age=79.0±8.4 years; men: n=2340, age= 78.3±8.6 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  The nutritional status of participants was assessed through the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (the revised MNA-SF). Out of social and economic correlates we evaluated age, sex, level of education, marital status, place of residence, living conditions and economic status. Economic status of the respondents was determined on the basis of questions on how well they could manage their own budgets. Those who could afford only the cheapest food or clothes were considered the group of self-reported poverty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frequency of malnutrition in the PolSenior population accounted for 7.5% (in 5.0% men and 9.0% women; p<0.001). The risk of malnutrition was present in 38.9% (33.3% men and 42.4% women; p<0.001). In our study female sex, older age, unmarried status, living in a rural area and self-reported poverty were independent correlates of malnutrition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data showed high prevalence of malnutrition and the risk of its development among the community-dwelling elderly people in Poland. Screening with MNA-SF should focus in particular on unmarried, poorly educated individuals, in late old age, living in rural areas and self-reporting a poor financial state, especially women.
authors: Roma Krzymińska-Siemaszko, Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, os. Rusa 25a, Poznan, Poland, Phone/fax: +48 618738303, e-mail: romakrzyminska@interia.pl.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Krzymińska-Siemaszko
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Mossakowska
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Skalska
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Klich-Rączka
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Tobis
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Szybalska
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cylkowska-Nowak
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Olszanecka-Glinianowicz
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Chudek
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Wieczorowska-Tobis
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017533:Marital Status; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012306:Risk; D012424:Rural Population; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors