Related Experiment Videos
High prevalence of undernutrition in Dutch community-dwelling older individuals
Janneke Schilp1, Hinke M Kruizenga, Hanneke A H Wijnhoven
1Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.schilp@vu.nl
Objective:
To examine the prevalence of undernutrition in community-dwelling older individuals (≥65 y) using data from various settings.
Methods:
A cross-sectional observational study was performed to examine the prevalence of undernutrition in three samples (all ≥65 y): 1) 1267 community-dwelling individuals participating in a large prospective population-based study, the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) in 1998/99; 2) 814 patients receiving home care in 2009/10; and 3) 1878 patients from general practices during the annual influenza vaccination in 2009/10. Undernutrition was assessed by the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire 65+.
Results:
Mean age was 77.3 y (SD 6.7) in the LASA sample, 81.6 y (SD 7.4) in the home care sample, and 75.3 y (SD 6.5) in the general practice sample. The prevalence of undernutrition was highest in the home care sample (35%), followed by the general practice (12%) and LASA (11%) samples. The prevalence of undernutrition increased significantly with age in the general practice and LASA samples. Gender differences were observed in the general practice and home care samples; women were more likely to be undernourished in the general practice sample and men were more likely to be undernourished in the home care sample.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of undernutrition in Dutch community-dwelling older individuals was relatively high, especially in home care patients.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
Development of Human Microbiota
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption