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Fluid intake of elderly Europeans
A Haveman-Nies1, L C de Groot, W A Van Staveren
1Sub-department of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Elderly women in Europe often have low fluid intake, increasing dehydration risk. Factors like mental state and daily living abilities are linked to lower water consumption in older women.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Dehydration is a prevalent fluid disorder affecting elderly individuals across various living settings.
- Assessing fluid intake and associated risk factors in community-dwelling elderly populations is crucial for preventative health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fluid and water intake patterns among community-dwelling elderly Europeans.
- To examine the relationship between fluid intake and risk factors for dehydration, including mental state, activities of daily living (ADL), medication use, and body composition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 1993 SENECA-study, a random age-stratified sample of European elderly (birth cohorts 1913-1918).
- Employed the dietary history method for food and fluid intake assessment across ten European towns.
- Collected data on 629 men and 696 women, analyzing fluid intake in relation to various risk factors.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in fluid intake were observed between European towns and between genders.
- A substantial percentage of elderly women exhibited water intake below the recommended 1,700 g/day threshold.
- Lower water intake in women correlated with poorer mental state and difficulties in activities of daily living (ADL).
Conclusions:
- Elderly women represent a higher-risk group for dehydration due to lower overall water intake compared to men.
- Reduced fluid consumption in women is associated with compromised mental status and functional limitations (ADL).
- Public health initiatives should focus on improving hydration in elderly women, considering their specific risk factors.