• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.223-232
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• 2013

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of salt (NaCl) recognition threshold and pleasant salt concentrations of Korean rural elderly subjects on preference of salty food as well as food group consumption patterns. The subjects were 213 elderly people (male 71 and female 142) over 65 and under 90 yr of age from Sunchang area. The higher values were found with male subjects in the areas of basic taste recognition threshold and pleasant concentration level of salt. The taste sensitivity scores of male subjects did not decrease with the increasing age, but female subjects exhibited a significant decrease with the age. The major determinant factor of salt preference of the elderly subjects in this study appeared to be personal pleasant concentration of salt rather than salt recognition threshold level and this trend was more evident in males than in females. The subject group of lower salt pleasant concentration i.e. consuming less salt showed the higher number of fruit and fruit juice intakes per week, and higher MNA (define this) scores were implying that they display more desirable nutritional status. Therefore, nutritional education focused on not only a variety of food consumption but also lowering pleasant salt concentration levels is advised to improve the quality of nutrition in the elderly.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.439-448
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• 2003

Purpose: This study was accomplished to apply and to evaluate the 10-week Urinary tract Function Promotion for the Elderly Women (UFPE), and to suggest guideline and to be utilized on the community level. Method: Subjects were 30 persons of 16 healthy elderly and 14 hemiplegic elderly. This UFPE was composed of diagnosis of incontinence & evaluation of physical condition, understanding of urogenital system & urinary incontinence management. UFPE was evaluated by subjective urinary condition, intra-vaginal contraction power, continence self-efficacy (CSE), incontinence stress, geriatric depression. The collected data was analyzed using Wilcoxon Matched Signed-Ranks test by SPSS/WIN program. Result: 5 subjects (31.2%) in healthy group and 2 subjects(14.3%) in hemiplegic group have a daytime frequency, 14 subjects(87.5%) in healthy- group and 14 subjects(100%) have a nocturia. After program, subjective urinary condition was increased just only healthy elderly (Z=-2.545, p<0.05), while intra-vaginal contraction power and CSE were increased significantly only in the hemiplegic elderly (Z=-2.57, P<0.05: Z=-2.29, p<0.05). There were barriers not to comply program guidance such as inadequate perception of pelvic floor muscle, forget to do exercise, fatigue. Conclusion: UFPE was effective in increasing subjective urinary condition for healthy elderly and in increasing intra-vaginal contraction power and continence self-efficacy for the hemiplegic elderly women. I suggest that this UFPE be utilized at the health center and elderly center, and public health nurse counsel and guide the elderly's work through phone service.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.543-554
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The elderly are reported to have a high prevalence of nutritional anemia when they have lower intakes of nutrients or chronic diseases. This study was conducted to compare nutritional status according to nutritional anemia and to determine associations between nutritional anemia and chronic diseases in Korean elderly. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study utilized data on 3,258 elderly aged ${\geq}65$ years gathered during the $6^{th}$ Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015. Subjects were divided into nutritional anemia (NA) group (n = 415) and non-NA group (n = 2,843) by hemoglobin concentration. Nutrient intakes were assessed using dietary intake data obtained using the 24-hour recall method. The odds ratios (ORs) for nutritional anemia by chronic diseases were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Ver. 23.0. RESULTS: Of 3,258 subjects, 12.7% had nutritional anemia. Intakes of potatoes, pulses, and mushrooms by males and potatoes, fruits, meats, eggs, and seafood by females were significantly lower in NA group than in non-NA group. The proportion of the subjects whose intakes of protein, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, and iron less than estimated average requirement (EAR) were significantly higher in NA group compared to non-NA group. After adjusting for age, the number of family members, energy intake, and alcohol drinking, ORs for nutritional anemia in the subjects with diabetes and myocardial infarction or angina pectoris were significantly higher by 1.74 times and 1.59 times as compared to the subjects without those diseases, respectively. However, ORs for nutritional anemia in the subjects with obesity, abdominal obesity, and hypertriglyceridemia were significantly lower by 0.64 times, 0.60 times, and 0.59 times as compared to the subjects without those diseases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggested that nutritional management should be done to enable the Korean elderly to consume foods with high hematopoietic nutrients density to prevent nutritional anemia. Korean elderly need to make regular efforts to check for nutritional anemia.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.504-517
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in risk factors and sleep, depression, and mobility of Korean elderly with and without low back pain and sciatica. Methods: Data were derived from the 2011 Korean National Survey on Older Adults. Participants included 10,674 community-dwelling elderly. The group of elderly subjects with low back pain and sciatica and the group of elderly subjects without low back pain and sciatica were compared according to gender. Result: Age, monthly income, exercise, arthritis, osteoporosis, and providing caring support were significant risk factors for low back pain and sciatica in elderly male subjects. On the other hand, monthly income, living arrangement, arthritis, osteoporosis, providing caring support, and television watching time were significant risk factors in elderly female subjects. Significant differences in depression and mobility according to low back pain and sciatica were observed in both genders. Conclusion: Risk factors for low back pain and sciatica in elderly differed according to gender. Low back pain and sciatica showed an association with depression and mobility. These findings should be considered in planning for nursing intervention for low back pain and sciatica.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.302-310
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• 2003

This study was undertaken to assess nutritional status of the low income elderly residing in Gwangju. Anthropometric data showed that mean height of the subjects was lower than that of Korean Standard Growth data but weight was similar to that standard value. As the subjects became older, their heights and weights were decreased. Body mass index (BMI) in males and females were 22.9 and 24.4 respectively. However, BMI distribution showed that 56% of the elderly females under 75 were underweight. Advancing age conoibutes significant difference in triceps skinfold thickness in females (p < 0.001). Total cholesterol level was higher in the elderly females than the males. It was found that a considerable number of subjects had anemia determined by hemoglobin and hematocrit level, which indicated un iron deficiency. Twenty-four hour dietary recall revealed that, except for phosphorus and vitamin C, all the nutrient intakes of the subjects were below 75％ of Korean RDA. Surprisingly, vitamin A and riboflavin intakes of the elderly were below 50％ of Korean RDA. Energy intakes of the elderly males and females were 58.7% and 59.6% of Korean RDA respectively. Unbalanced energy ratios of carbohydrate, protein and fat were noted in both genders. Nutrient intakes of females' were lower than those of males'. Thus, there was a significant gender difference in nutrient intakes. It might be further suggested that an appropriate nutritional program should be developed and implemented to improve the Poor nutritional status of the low income elderly living in cities.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.11
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• pp.2131-2137
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• 2008

In this paper, COP (center of pressure) during quiet standing and squat-and-stand movement was analyzed to compare the postural control of young and elderly subjects with special interest in the elderly females who were reported to have higher fall rate than the elderly males. Subjects include the young subjects (10 males: $21.8{\pm}2.6yrs$, 10 females: $20.4{\pm}0.3yrs$) and the elderly subjects (8 males: $75.5{\pm}4yrs$, 8 females: $72.3{\pm}3.5yrs$). Analysis parameters were the mean of the distance between the instantaneous COP and the average COP (COP distance) and the mean of the COP movement velocity (COP velocity) in both AP (anterio-posterior) and ML (media-lateral) directions. During quiet standing, the COP distance in ML direction of elderly females was significantly greater than that of elderly males and the COP velocity of elderly females in both ML and AP direction were significantly greater than those of all the other groups. During squat and stand movement, the COP distance of elderly females was not significantly different with that of the elderly males. However, the COP velocity of elderly females was significantly greater than that of all the other groups. The large lateral weight shift (COP distance) of elderly females during quiet standing may explain their greater fall rate. However, this does not apply to squat-and stand movement. In contrast, COP velocity results show that the elderly females' COP is rapidly trembling compared to that of elderly males during both quiet standing and squat and-stand movement. This results suggest that rapid trembling or postural sway may reflect the reduced postural control ability and the risk of falling.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2015

This study aimed to compare and evaluate nutritive conditions of the female elderly (2,893 people) based on a national health nutrition survey and health-related factors influencing nutritional intake. The results are as follows.- Average age of all subjects was $72.12{\pm}5.2$ old. BMI ($24.48{\pm}3.3kg/m^2$) and waist size ($83.9{\pm}9.5cm$) of urban elderly was larger ($23.74{\pm}3.3kg/m^2$, $82.28{\pm}9.9cm$) than that of rural elderly. MAR[4] and MAR[10] were also higher in urban elderly than rural elderly. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that factors influencing poor nutrition of elderly subjects were increasing age, smoking, and self-rated health. Old-old and current smokers were associated with a higher likelihood of poor nutrition (OR 1.82, 95%CI 1.43~2.30) and (OR 3.40, 95%CI 2.17~5.33) elderly female subjects in urban areas. Smoking (OR 2.29, 95%CI 1.33~3.95), poor self-rated health (OR 1.55, 95%CI 1.11~2.16), over nine hours of sleep per nighting (OR 1.72, 95%CI 1.17~2.53) and stress (OR 1.46, 95%CI 1.10~1.92) of elderly female subjects in rural areas were associated with higher likelihood of a poor nutrition. In conclusion, rural elderly are more influenced by poor health practice behaviors (self-rated health, sleeping stress) and psychological factors. Nutrition status of the rural elderly is worse than that of the urban elderly. To reduce nutritional risk of Korean elderly, especially rural elderly, active nutrition arbitration should include psychological environmental factors.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.210-222
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• 2004

In recent years, the number and proportion of Korean elderly have grown rapidly, and elderly individuals show a disproportionate risk for poor nutritional status. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of sociodemographic background to nutrient intake of persons 65 years of age or older, living in 15 cities in Korea. Data on 1973 subjects (603 males, 1370 females), who participated in the Korean Elderly Nutrition Survey (2000), were analyzed. Their mean age was 72.3 years and their mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.2 kg/$m^2$. Basic sociodemographic data were obtained through personal interviews. The 98-item semi-food frequency questionnaire, developed and previously validated for Korean middle-aged and elderly subjects, was administered. “Percentage of subjects who consumed under 75％ Korean RDA,” “number of nutrients consumed below 75％ Korean RDA,” “mean nutrient adequacy ratio,” and “nutrient density” were used to determine nutritional status. Male elderly had better nutritional quality than female elderly. Nutritional quality decreased with age, especially in older elderly (over 75). Elderly who were underweight (BMI 〈 20 kg/$m^2$) showed poorer nutritional quality than those who were normal weight (BMI 20∼25 kg/$m^2$) and overweight (BMI $\geq$ 25 kg/$m^2$). Elderly who lived alone had significantly poorer nutritional quality than those who lived with a spouse, and/or with children. Lower education level and economic dependence also showed lower nutritional quality. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the effects of specific sociodemographic factors on nutritional quality. For number of nutrients under 75％ RDA as a dependent variable, education level explained 4.8％ of the variance, followed by living status, age, body mass index, gender, and living expense support (Model $R^2$ = 0.091). For mean nutrient adequacy ratio as a dependent variable, model $R^2$ was 0.098. Therefore, sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, body mass index, living status, educational level, and economic status influenced elderly nutrition status. These results indicate that an elderly nutrition intervention should focus on subjects who are poorly educated, living alone, age 75 or older, and/or underweight.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.436-446
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate cognitive function, leisure activities and depression in female elderly, to examine the relationships among those variables and to investigate leisure activities and depression according to cognitive function. Methods: The subjects were 105 female elderly visiting two senior citizen centers in Seoul, Korea. Data were collected from November to December 2006. The participants were assured of anonymity and confidentiality. All information was collected through face-to-face interviews using questionnaires. Results: 26.0% of the participants were cognitive impaired but not demented and 17.3% were demented. The level of depression was severe and 77.9% of the subjects were depressed. The subjects were not actively engaging in leisure activities. There were significant correlations between cognitive function, leisure activities and depression in female elderly. Demented or CIND subjects were more actively engaging in extra family fulfillment type leisure activities than normal subjects, Conclusion: These findings showed the need for a program for female elderly regarding leisure activities. When counseling the elderly, nurses must consider their cognitive function, leisure activities and depression.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.153-164
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to investigate preferences of middle-aged people for elderly housing in order to properly plan elderly housing; 1 ) To analyze the middle-aged peoples' preferences for elderly housing in each situation based on the following 4 categories; elderly couple/healthy, elderly couple/unhealthy, elderly living alone/healthy, elderly living alone/unhealthy. 2) To clarify the differences in preferences for elderly housing according to the subjects' backgrounds in each case. This research intends to understand the form of elderly housing and desire for the environment of subjects, middle-age, who will be old aged, and the change of preference to characteristics for elderly housing according to the change of situation. The data were collected through structured questionnaires. The subject were 298 middle-aged, 40-50's who will be experiencing aging, major customer of elderly housing in the future.