County-Level Characteristics Driving Malnutrition Death Rates among Older Adults in Texas.
C D Bergeron1, J M John, M Sribhashyam
1Matthew Lee Smith, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A and M University, College Station, TX, USA, matthew.smith@tamu.edu.
The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging
|August 19, 2021
Summary
Older adult malnutrition in Texas is linked to socioeconomic factors. Higher death rates in rural areas are associated with poverty, low education, and limited food access, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
Background:
- Malnutrition poses a significant health risk to older adults.
- Understanding county-level disparities in malnutrition mortality is crucial for public health initiatives.
- Texas has a large older adult population facing diverse socioeconomic challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the prevalence of older adult malnutrition in Texas.
- To examine county-level characteristics associated with malnutrition death rates among seniors.
- To describe available resources for addressing malnutrition in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Secondary data analysis of national databases (CDC WONDER, American Community Survey, USDA Food Access Research Atlas).
- Study encompassed all 254 counties in Texas.
- Analysis focused on individuals aged 65 years and older, examining malnutrition crude death rates against variables like rurality, poverty, education, and food access.
Main Results:
- The overall malnutrition crude death rate in Texas was 65.6 per 100,000 older adults.
- Higher malnutrition death rates were significantly associated with non-metropolitan counties (P=0.018).
- Factors such as lower education (P=0.047), greater household poverty (P=0.010), and low food access (P<0.001) were linked to increased mortality.
Conclusions:
- Socioeconomic disadvantages at the county level are identified as root causes of malnutrition crude death rates in Texas.
- Targeted interventions addressing poverty, education, and food access are needed in vulnerable Texas counties.
- Public health strategies should consider the interplay of socioeconomic factors and malnutrition outcomes in older populations.
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