title: Risk Factors for Malnutrition in Seniors Aged 75+ Living in Home Environment in Selected Regions of the Czech Republic.
abstract: Nutrition is an important social determinant of health that influences the ageing process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional condition of a group of seniors and identify the bio-psycho-social factors that increase the risk of malnutrition.
  
  
  
  The research was conducted using a quantitative method. The standardised scales Mini Nutritional Assessment - Short Form (MNA-SF) and the Geriatric depression scale (GDS-5) were used to evaluate the nutritional condition and tendency towards depression of the tested group. This group consisted of seniors aged 75 and above living in home environment in the České Budějovice region. The group was comprised of 320 seniors, 115 men (35.9%) and 205 women (64.1%), which corresponds to the composition of the population in the chosen region of the Czech Republic. Statistical data analysis was conducted using SASD 1.4.10 and SPSS 15.0 programs. Pearson's chi-squared test (Χ²) and Cramér's V were chosen for statistical testing. The significance level was set at 5%.
  
  
  
  The average BMI value of the seniors was 26.2 kg/m² (overweight). This value decreased with age. More than one third of the respondents were evaluated as being at risk of malnutrition (36.3%). Unintended weight loss was determined as the strongest risk factor of malnutrition. Seniors who had lowered their food intake stated unintended weight loss 10 times more often than respondents with no noticeable reduction in food intake. Seniors who showed signs of depression indicated weight loss three and a half times more often than respondents without depression. Meanwhile acute illness increased the risk by three times. Depression was found to be the cause and also the consequence of malnutrition.
  
  
  
  Despite the high prevalence of overweight and obesity, a large proportion of the respondents were running the risk of malnutrition. It was concluded that the strongest risk factors for malnutrition in the respondents were unintended weight loss, depression and lowered food intake. Compared to biological factors, social and economic factors were less significant in causing malnutrition in seniors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency care, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brabcová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency care, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trešlová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency care, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Sylva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bártlová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Social-pedagogical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vacková
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency care, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tóthová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Social-pedagogical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Motlová
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: malnutrition; nourishment; nutritional assessment; risk factors; seniors