Diet quality in elderly Portuguese households

To identify diet quality time trends in Portuguese elderly households and the association of diet quality with sociodemographic characteristics.

Set of four cross-sectional studies.

Portuguese population.

Nationally representative samples from Household Budget Surveys (1989-1990, 1994-1995, 2000-2001 and 2005-2006 versions). Households with members aged ≥ 65 years were categorized as solitary elderly female, solitary elderly male, or elderly couple (composed of one elderly female and one elderly male) and compared with adult households with the same composition.

Diet quality was assessed through a revised version of the Healthy Diet Indicator (HDIr). Univariate and multiple backward linear regression models were used to study the association with sociodemographic characteristics.

Mean values of dietary index were low and the proportion of elderly households with low diet quality (HDIr≤4) was high (between 47.4% and 68.4%). However, the frequency of HDIr inadequacy for adult household was even higher (P<0.05). In general, adjusted coefficients for survey year, educational level of the household head, and eating out expenses were inversely associated with HDIr; whilst semi-urban and rural location of the households predicted higher HDIr values. Exceptions were found in elderly male households where the educational level of the household head was positively associated with HDIr values.

Overall, diet quality was low and decreased over time but lonely elderly female and elderly couple households had higher values of HDIr. Adherence to a healthier diet was associated with lower educational level of the household head and location of the household in less urbanized areas.