Association between Nutritional Status, Food Insecurity and Frailty among Elderly with Low Income
- Author:
NurZetty Sofia Zainuddin
;
Muhammmad Hazrin Husin
;
Nur Hidayah Ahmad
;
Wong Yun Hua
;
Han Wan Chien
;
Suzana Shahar
;
Munirah Ismail
;
Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Elderly;
frailty;
food insecurity;
low income;
calcium intake
- MeSH:
Aged;
Income
- From:Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences
2017;15(1):50-59
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Aging is associated with increased risk of frailty and malnutrition. However, food insecurity has rarely been highlighted in the elderly population, especially among the low income group. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the association between nutritional status, food insecurity and frailty among elderly in low income residences in Klang Valley. A total of 72 elderly individuals aged 60 years and above was selected (mean age 66 ± 6 years) through convenient sampling. Participants were interviewed to obtain information on socio-demographic, health status, food insecurity and cognitive status. Anthropometrics parameters and frailty assessments was measured using standard criteria. Results showed that 75.0% of the participants had abdominal obesity. Nearly half of the participants were overweight (41.7%), followed by normal (43.0%) and underweight (15.3%). With respect to food insecurity, most of them reported that they had enough food (93.1%). There were significant correlation (p < 0.05) between food insecurity with height (r = -0.263, p = 0.026). Most of the participants were pre-frail (58.3%), frail (27.8%) and followed by non-frail (13.9%). Calcium intake is inversely associated with frailty (t = -2.62, p = 0.011). In conclusion, food insecurity was not a problem, however, half of the subjects were overweight and pre-frail. Three out four subjects had abdominal obesity. There is a need to investigate further the pathogenesis of fat frail in this low income elderly population and formulate effective intervention strategies.
- Full text:P020170215413304910967.pdf
