Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

What is associated with nutrition risk in very old age?

  • JNHA: Nutrition
  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

To identify factors associated with nutrition risk among a purposive sample of those in advanced aged.

Design

A cross sectional feasibility study.

Setting

Three North Island locations in New Zealand.

Participants

One hundred and eight community-living residents aged 75–85 years.

Measurements

Nutrition risk was assessed using a validated questionnaire, Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition, Version II (SCREEN II). A Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) was used to determine level of physical activity. Markers of body composition, grip strength and fasting blood samples were collected.

Results

Fifty-two percent of participants were at high nutrition risk (SCREEN II score ≪50; range 29–58; out of maximum score 64). The mean score for SCREEN II was higher for older people who lived with others (50.3 ±5.1) compared to those who lived alone (46.4 ±5.8) p=0.001. The SCREEN II score was positively correlated with the total PASE score r= 0.20 (p=0.042), grip strength r=0.20 (p=0.041), and muscle mass percentage r=0.31 (p=0.004). Lower levels of haemoglobin, serum zinc and physical activity were associated with higher nutrition risk.

Conclusion

Half the participants were at high nutrition risk. They tended to be widowed or live alone and had lower levels of haemoglobin and serum zinc. Those at lower nutrition risk had greater muscle mass and strength, lower body fat, consumed alcohol more frequently and engaged in more physical activity. Strategies which encourage older people to eat meals and be physically active with others may assist to improve their health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ministry of Health, The Health and Independence Report. 2001, Ministry of Health: Wellington, New Zealand.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ministry of Social Policy, The New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy. 2001, Ministry of Social Policy: Wellington, New Zealand.

    Google Scholar 

  3. American Dietetic Association, Position paper of the American Dietetic Association: nutrition across the spectrum of aging. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005; 105(4): 616–633.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Wilkinson, T. and Sainsbury R. The association between mortality, morbidity and age in New Zealand’s oldest old. Int J Aging Hum Dev. 1998; 46: 333–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wylie, C, Copeman J and Kirk, S. Health and social factors affecting the food choice and nutritional intake of elderly people with restricted mobility. J Hum Nutr Diet. 1999; 12: 375–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Donini LM., Savina C and Cannella C. Eating Habits and Appetite Control in the Elderly: The Anorexia of Aging. Int Psychogeriatr. 2003; 15(01):73–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Posthauer M, Dorse B and Foiles R. ADA’s definitions for nutrition screening and nutrition assessment. J Am Diet Assoc. 1994; 94(8):838–839.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Elia M, Zellipour L and Stratton R. To screen or not to screen for adult malnutrition? Clin Nutr. 2005; 24: 867–884.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Keller H, Hedley M and Wong Brownlee S. Development of SCREEN-Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition. Can J Diet Prac Res. 2000; 61:62–72.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Keller H, Goy Rand Kane S.-L. Validity and reliability of SCREEN II (Seniors in the Community; Risk evaluation for eating and nutrition, Version II). Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005; 59:1149–1157.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Keller H, Haresign H and Brockest B. Process Evaluation of Bringing Nutrition Screening to Seniors in Canada (BNSS). Can J Diet Prac Res. 2007; 68(2):86–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Nelson M, Rejeski W and Blair S. Physical activity and public health in older adults: recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007; 39(8):1435–1445.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ministry of Health. A Portrait of Health: Key Results of the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey. 2008, Wellington, New Zealand.

  14. Accident Compensation Corporation. Older adult falls prevention.2007; [On-line]. http://www.acc.co.nz/index.htm.

  15. Ministry of Social Development, The Social Report. 2008, Ministry of Social Development: Wellington, New Zealand.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Washburn, RA, McAuley, E and Katula, J et al., The physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE): Evidence for Validity. J Clin Epidemiol. 1999. 52(7): 643–651.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Keller, H. H., R. Goy, and S.-L. Kane, Validity and reliability of SCREEN II (Seniors in the Community: Risk evaluation for eating and nutrition, Version II). Eu J Clin Nutr. 2005; 59:1449–1157.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Keller HH and McKenzie JD. Nutritional risk in vulnerable community-living seniors. Can J Diet Prac Res. 2003; 64(4):195–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Nickols-Richardson SM, Johnson MA, Poon LW et al., Demographic Predictors of Nutritional Risk in Elderly Persons. J Appl Gerontol. 1996; 15(3):361–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. McIntosh W, Shifflett P and Picou S. Social support, stressful events, strain, dietary intake, and the elderly. Med Care. 1989; 27: 140–153.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Quandt SA, McDonald J, Arcury TA et al. Nutritional self-management of elderly widows in rural communities. Gerontologist. 2000; 40: 86–96.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. De Castro J. Age-related changes in the social, psychological, and temporal influences on food intake in free-living, healthy, adult humans. J Gerontol (A Biol Sci Med Sci). 2002; 57A: M368–M377.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Bernstein MA, Tucker K and Ryan M. Higher dietary variety is associated with better nutritional status in frail elderly people. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002; 102(8): 1096–1104.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Locher JL, Robinson CO, Roth DL et al. The Effect of the Presence of Others on Caloric Intake in Homebound Older Adults. J Gerontol Med Sc. 2005; 60A(11):1475–1478.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lang I, Guralnik J, Wallace RB et al. Moderate alcohol consumption in older adults is associated with better cognition and well-being than abstinence. Age Aging. 2007; 36(3):256–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Horwath C. Nutrition and Aging. In: Mann Jand Truswell AS. Eds. Essentials of Human Nutrition, Oxford, England: 2002, Oxford University Press, pp551–565.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ministry of Health, NZ Food: NZ People. Key results of the 1997 National Nutrition Survey. 1999, Wellington, New Zealand.

  28. Stewart-Knox BJ, Simpson EA, Parr H et al. Taste acuity in response to zinc supplementation in older Europeans. Brit J Nutr. 2008; 99: 129–136.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Chipperfield JG. Everyday Physical Activity as a Predictor of Late-Life Mortality. Gerontologist. 2008; 48(5): 708–708.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Pieterse S, Manandharand M and Ismail S. The association between nutritional status and handgrip strength in older Rwandan refugees. Eu J Clin Nutr. 2002; 56: 933–939.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Food, Nutrition & Human Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand

    Carol A. Wham

  2. Department of General Practice & Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    R. O. Y. Teh & N. M. Kerse

  3. Department Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    M. Robinson

  4. Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Albany Campus, Private Bag 102904, North Shore Mail Centre, Auckland, New Zealand

    Carol A. Wham

Authors
  1. Carol A. Wham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. O. Y. Teh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Robinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. M. Kerse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carol A. Wham.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wham, C.A., Teh, R.O.Y., Robinson, M. et al. What is associated with nutrition risk in very old age?. J Nutr Health Aging 15, 247–251 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-010-0304-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-010-0304-6

Key words

Search

Navigation