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Prevalence of risk of undernutrition is associated with poor health status in older people in the UK

Prevalence of risk of undernutrition is associated with poor health status in older people in the UK
Prevalence of risk of undernutrition is associated with poor health status in older people in the UK
Objectives: To establish the prevalence of the risk of undernutrition, using criteria similar to those used by the Malnutrition Advisory Group (MAG), in people aged 65 y and over, and to identify relationships between risk of undernutrition and health and demographic characteristics.
Design: A cross-sectional nationally representative sample of free-living and institutionalized older people in the UK (65 y of age and over). Secondary analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey based on 1368 people aged 65 y and over.
Results: About 14% (21% in those living in institutions) were at medium or high risk of undernutrition based on a composite measure of low body mass index and recent reported weight loss. Having a long-standing illness was associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of undernutrition (odds ratio: men 2.34, 95% CI 1.20-4.58; women 2.98; 1.58-5.62). The risk of undernutrition increased: in women reporting bad or very bad health status; in men living in northern England and Scotland; for those aged 85 y and older; for those hospitalized in the last year, and those living in an institution. Lower consumption of energy, meat products or fruit and vegetables and lower blood measures of zinc, vitamins A, D, E and C were associated with statistically significantly increased risk of undernutrition.
Conclusions: A substantial proportion of the older population of the UK is at risk of undernutrition. High-risk subjects are more likely to have poorer health status. It is unlikely that the individuals at high risk are being detected currently, and therefore effective care is not being provided, either in the community or in institutions.
Sponsorship: This analysis was partly funded by a grant from the Department of Health. We are grateful for helpful comments from Professor MJ Wiseman and the anonymous reviewers.
undernutrition, weight loss, bmi, illness, poor health
0954-3007
69-74
Margetts, B.M.
d415f4a1-d572-4ebc-be25-f54886cb4788
Thompson, R.L.
1a394a6d-b006-4aec-b9be-b3e6c16fdb7b
Elia, M.
964bf436-e623-46d6-bc3f-5dd04c9ef4c1
Jackson, A.A.
c9a12d7c-b4d6-4c92-820e-890a688379ef
Margetts, B.M.
d415f4a1-d572-4ebc-be25-f54886cb4788
Thompson, R.L.
1a394a6d-b006-4aec-b9be-b3e6c16fdb7b
Elia, M.
964bf436-e623-46d6-bc3f-5dd04c9ef4c1
Jackson, A.A.
c9a12d7c-b4d6-4c92-820e-890a688379ef

Margetts, B.M., Thompson, R.L., Elia, M. and Jackson, A.A. (2003) Prevalence of risk of undernutrition is associated with poor health status in older people in the UK. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 57 (1), 69-74. (doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601499).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objectives: To establish the prevalence of the risk of undernutrition, using criteria similar to those used by the Malnutrition Advisory Group (MAG), in people aged 65 y and over, and to identify relationships between risk of undernutrition and health and demographic characteristics.
Design: A cross-sectional nationally representative sample of free-living and institutionalized older people in the UK (65 y of age and over). Secondary analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey based on 1368 people aged 65 y and over.
Results: About 14% (21% in those living in institutions) were at medium or high risk of undernutrition based on a composite measure of low body mass index and recent reported weight loss. Having a long-standing illness was associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of undernutrition (odds ratio: men 2.34, 95% CI 1.20-4.58; women 2.98; 1.58-5.62). The risk of undernutrition increased: in women reporting bad or very bad health status; in men living in northern England and Scotland; for those aged 85 y and older; for those hospitalized in the last year, and those living in an institution. Lower consumption of energy, meat products or fruit and vegetables and lower blood measures of zinc, vitamins A, D, E and C were associated with statistically significantly increased risk of undernutrition.
Conclusions: A substantial proportion of the older population of the UK is at risk of undernutrition. High-risk subjects are more likely to have poorer health status. It is unlikely that the individuals at high risk are being detected currently, and therefore effective care is not being provided, either in the community or in institutions.
Sponsorship: This analysis was partly funded by a grant from the Department of Health. We are grateful for helpful comments from Professor MJ Wiseman and the anonymous reviewers.

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More information

Published date: 2003
Keywords: undernutrition, weight loss, bmi, illness, poor health

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 25785
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/25785
ISSN: 0954-3007
PURE UUID: bc96c64a-133d-451b-8dec-bd77974a6e62

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Date deposited: 21 Apr 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:05

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Contributors

Author: B.M. Margetts
Author: R.L. Thompson
Author: M. Elia
Author: A.A. Jackson

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