Risk assessment and influencing factors of malnutrition among community-dwelling senior citizens in Yuexiu District of Guangzhou City
ZENG Jue1, XU Bin1, LI Cheng2, ZHANG Jian2, ZHANG Ting1, LIN Chu-hui3
1. Yuexiu District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510030, China; 2. National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China; 3. The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510260, China
Abstract：Objective To study the dietary nutrition status and its main influencing factors among community-dwelling older people in Yuexiu District, to explore the appropriate intervention measures for malnutrition among senior citizens, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating nutrition improvement strategies for the group. Methods A questionnaire survey and physical examinations were conducted among 474 senior citizens aged 65 years and above and recruited from 4 randomly selected communities in Yuexiu District of Guangzhou City from 2018 and 2020. Lifestyle and dietary habits of the senior citizens were assessed using the health industry standard the Malnutrition Risk Assessment of the Aged (WS/T 552-2017). SPSS 17.0 software was used to conduct data processing and analysis. χ2 test and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the factors impacting the risk of malnutrition in the senior citizens. Results The proportions of the community-dwelling senior citizens with malnutrition and the risk of malnutrition in Yuexiu District were 0.21% and 36.08%, respectively. The main risk factors for malnutrition/the risk of malnutrition in the senior citizens were poor dental condition (OR=3.351), having less than three meals a day (OR=6.120), diet changes in recent three months (OR=9.381), insufficient time for daily outdoor activities (OR=4.929), insufficient daily intake of milk, soy products, fish/meat/poultry/eggs (OR=2.160), vegetables and fruits (OR=3.981), living alone (OR=4.428), low educational level (OR=2.756), feeling poor economic status (OR=3.723), having more than three chronic diseases(OR=5.709), suffering from cognitive disorder or depression(OR=6.449), long-term medication with more than three kinds ofmedicines(OR=5.734), and excessive waist circumference(OR=2.947). Conclusion The community-dwelling senior citizens in Yuexiu District have malnutrition/risk of malnutrition. The government and medical staff should strengthen the screening of nutritional status in this group, facilitate the dissemination of nutrition-related knowledge, and formulate targeted interventions to improve their nutritional status and prevent the occurrence of nutrition-related diseases.
2022, Vol. 29 
