• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined the dietary behavior, health status and nutrient intake by considering the level of household income of elderly people using data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES VII) 2018. Methods: The study subjects were 1,355 elderly people over 65 years old (558 men, 797 women). Based on their household income, participants were classified into three groups: low-income, middle-income, and high-income. The variables consisted of general characteristics, dietary behavior, health status, health related behavior, and dietary intakes. Dietary data were estimated by the 24-hour dietary recall. Results: In men, the low-income group encompassed older, less educated, less employed, and living with family of first generation. However, in women, there were no differences in employment by the level of income, and women living alone had lower income than subjects living with family. Elderly men in the high-income group had a significantly higher level of nutrient intake (energy, protein, fat, phosphorous, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C). Men in the low-income group consumed a significantly lower intake of fruits, seaweeds and eggs, including total food. Women in the low-income group had significantly less intake of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamin A, riboflavin, and niacin whereas women in the high-income group had significantly higher intake of sugar & sweet, eggs, and beverages, including total food. Conclusion: These results suggest that the level of household income is an important factor that influences food and nutrient intake in the Korean elderly. The socioeconomic status needs to be considered differently among elderly men and women when implementing food assistant programs and designing nutrition education programs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2003

Objectives : To investigate the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in elderly people, aged 65 or above, residing in Busan Metropolitan City. Methods : Total of 1,101 old people, aged 65 or above, living in Busan as of December 31, 2001 were selected using stratified three-stage cluster sampling. Cognitive impairment was determined from the MMSE-K score, and dementia confirmed from five psychometric measures and the Barthel index. The crude prevalence, sex-age adjusted for the Korean population, were obtained. Results : With the cut-off point for cognitive impairment was set at 24 points, or below, on the MMSE-K scale, the crude rate of cognitive impairment was 29.3% (15.7% for men and 37.5% for women), and the sex-age adjusted prevalence was 30.5% (17.5% for men and 37.0% for women). When the cut-off point for cognitive impairment was set at 20 points, or below, on the MMSE-K scale, the crude rate of cognitive impairments were 10.0% (4.1% for men and 13.5% for women), and 10.6% (4.7% for men and 13.1% for women), respectively. The crude dementia, and the sex-age adjusted rates were 7.4% (2.4% for men and 10.5% for women), and 8.0% (2.7% for men and 10.0% for women), respectively. Conclusions : The prevalence of dementia in this study was somewhat lower than that reported by other domestic and foreign studies. Our results related to the difference in time and space, diagnostic tools, response rates, and distribution of male and female subjects, etc.

• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.627-643
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• 2018

This study aims to analyze gender differences in the prevalence of and risk factors for self-neglect among the elderly in South Korea. In order to investigate the differences between male and female elderly group, we compared 793 elderly men and 1,089 women from the data "Research on the Healthy Aging and Well-being of the Elderly" conducted in 2018. First, t-test and ${\chi}^2$-test and multiple regression analysis identified that gender differences in the prevalence of elder self-neglect was not statistically significant. Second, There are differences in risk factors affecting self-neglect between genders. age and class(perception) are the factors only affecting men. Income(monthly), having-religion, living-alone, satisfaction with life, social network are the ones only affecting women. Third, the risk factors for both men and women are depression and social support(public support). It is notable that we verify the empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis that risk factors for elder self-neglect may exist differently according to gender. In particular, gender characteristics revealed in this study can be reasonably explained through exchange theory and feminist theory. Therefore, we emphasize that the policy approach should be done depending on the gender of the elderly, and that the social safety net more paying attention to the depression of the elderly should be strengthened.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical characteristics of anemia and to define the risk factors for anemia in older Koreans in Asan. From January to February 2002, five hundred sixty two community-dwelling older adults aged over 60 years were selected from a cross sectional study. All subjects underwent laboratory tests, which included a complete blood cell count, reticulocyte, liver and renal functional tests, lipid profiles and iron status tests. The median age was 68.6 years (range, 60-92 years). The mean levels of hemoglobin were $14.4{\pm}1.3\;g/dL$ in men and $12.9{\pm}1.0\;g/dL$ in women, and the overall prevalence of anemia was 12.5% in all subjects, 10.8% in men and 13.6% in women. The prevalence of anemia was the lowest among age group of 60-69 (10.0%) followed by 70-79 (15.5%), and the highest among age over 80 (20.7%), but the difference was significant only for men. The age difference was more distinct in men than in women (p<0.05). The mean hemoglobin level was significantly lower in the subjects aged over 80 y than those in the 60-69 y group (p<0.05). According to a logistic regression analysis, lower albumin and higher creatinine levels were identified as independent risk factors of anemia among older adults in Asan. In conclusion, the overall prevalence of anemia in our study group was 12.5% and the highest (20.7%) among those aged over 80 y.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.43-57
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• 2018

Objectives: This study analyzes whether the leisure activities satisfaction of elderly and older elderly patients differs with population sociology characteristics for the leisure activities services provided by geriatric hospitals, and to provide basic information to make reasonable decisions. Methods: Difference Analysis of the difference (T-test, ANOVA) in leisure activities satisfaction was conducted for the elderly and older elderly patients hospitalized in nine hospitals. Results: First, In the planning stage of leisure activity program, it is necessary to consider the tendency of men and women to prefer gender-based leisure activity service. Second, It was found that old elderly patients were more in number than elderly patients. Third, managers of geriatric hospitals in Busan and Kyungnam area should consider the needs of the patients in the planning and implementation of leisure activities and improve their leisure activity programs or develop more programs for better customer satisfaction.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.773-788
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in nutrient intake according to the level of self-perception of health status, aging status and life satisfaction of the rural elderly. The factors for the study were surveyed by interview method. The subjects were 270 people(71 male, 129 female) aged over 65 years(73.5 $\pm$ 5.6ys) in the Ham-an area. The obtained results as follows : By evaluation of self-perception of health status, 57.5% of subjects answered they are in a bad health condition. The 91.5% of subjects had diseases(rheumatitis & arthritis 31.4%, cardiovascular disease 20.2%, gastric disease 10.2%). The women had more diseases than the men(p < 0.01). The subjects took medical treatment in private hospital(40.5%) and public health centers(35.0%). The men showed better level of aging status(p < 0.001) and life satisfaction index(p < 0.01) than the worsen. Living with spouse influenced the aging status(p < 0.05) and the more pocket money influenced life satisfaction(p < 0.05) and aging status(p < 0.05). The elderly who eat regularly 3 times a day(p < 0.05) and have a good appetite(p < 0.001) appeared to have positive effect on the self perception of health status and aging status. An increasing level of the self-perception of health status and regular exercise worked to improve aging status(p < 0.001). The habits of smoking and alcohol drinking, however had no effect on any index. The self-perception of health status affected the nutrient intake, but only in female elderly. The aging status and the life satisfaction index related overall positively to the intake of nutrients. In conclusion, the study shows that gender did influence nutrient intake in the elderly. The women who live alone rated lowest in social resources and health condition therefore their nutrient intake was also extremely in deficit. For successful aging, a program for rural elderly is needed, i.e. actions to provide minimum economic life, food delivery and psychological/physical health care through regional public health centers.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.553-560
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of u-health system on metabolic syndrome risk factor, body composition, and fitness in male and female elderly. Subjects were 46 elderly(24 men and 22 women) with metabolic syndrome. They were divided into u-health group and home exercise group. Blood pressure, blood profile, body composition, and fitness were measured before and after the intervention. As a results, blood glucose and waist circumference showed significant interaction in both men and women, respectively. In body composition, weight, muscle mass, fat mass, %body fat, BMI showed significant interaction whereas only muscle mass showed significant differences in women. In fitness, there were interaction shown in 3m up and go, functional reach, and gait speed in men. In women sit to stand, 6min walk, and grip strength showed significant interaction. In conclusion, u-health system seems to be the effective method in terms of checking regularly. However, easier and more simple system for elderly and specific direction for exercise should be added.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.231-244
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• 2020

Background: As the population is aging, chronic diseases and depression are becoming the main problems in a country's healthcare system. In this study, we aimed to explore the associations between chronic diseases and depression among the elderly in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed 9,975 (men, 4,147; women, 5,828) respondents obtained from the 2014 National Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Persons. Our dependent variable was either 1 or 0 according to whether a respondent had depression or not, where depression was defined when the Short Form of Geriatric Depression Scale score was 8 or more points. Variables of interest were 24 types of chronic diseases and covariates included various socio-demographic and health behavior characteristics. We performed Rao-Scott chi-square tests and hierarchal logistic regression analyses by gender, reflecting the characteristics of the survey. Results: A significant difference was found in the proportion of having depression between genders (men 18.9% vs. women 23.4%). According to fully adjusted, multivariable analyses, for elderly men, relative to those without any chronic disease, the odds ratio of depression was 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-2.22) in the stroke patients group and 1.82 (95% CI, 1.01-3.25) in the osteoporosis patients group. For elderly women, the odds ratio was 1.96 (95% CI, 1.28-3.00) in the fracture/dislocation and aftereffects patients group and 1.30 (95% CI, 1.03-1.64) in the group of patients with other diseases. Conclusion: Even after being adjusted for diverse characteristics, some chronic diseases were significantly associated with depression in the elderly and the association differed between genders. Therefore, public health and medical interventions are needed to manage such chronic diseases together with curing depression symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.305-320
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• 2014

This study identifies the foot shapes of elderly women by classifying foot type according to the 3D shape of the foot and 2D sole type analyzing individual characteristics. The subjects were 295 elderly women over 60 years of age who live in Gwangju. A foot scanner (K&I Technology $Nexcan^{(R)}$) was used to obtain three-dimensional shapes of feet and a flat bad scanner (HP Scanjet G2410) was used to obtain the two-dimensional shapes of soles. The anthropometric measuring items consisted of 59 items estimated on the right foot of each subject. Data were analyzed by various statistical methods such as factor analysis, ANOVA and cluster analysis using the SPSS 19.0 statistical program. To classify the side type of elderly women's feet, three-dimensional measurement data were analyzed for the 27 measurement items using factor analysis and 6 factors were extracted (inside height and side gradient, ankle thickness, toe height and midfoot size, lateral malleolus height, instep, and heel height and gradient). A cluster analysis resulted in three types: 36.5% belonged to Type 1 (high forefoot and high midfoot), 31.1% belonged to Type 2 (high forefoot and low midfoot), and 32.4% belonged to Type 3 (low forefoot and high midfoot). The distribution was relatively even. For the sole, 8 factors were extracted (ball width and medial foot protrusion, lateral foot protrusion, forefoot and hindfoot length ratio, ball gradient, heel size, toe breadth, lateral ball length, and foot length) and a cluster analysis resulted in three Types (Type H, Type D, and Type A). The largest proportion (42.7%) belonged to Type H, which is the same as the elderly men's case.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.363-381
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• 2021

Objectives: This study examined the Korean elderly's dietary intake status, subjective health-related perception and chronic disease prevalence among age groups. Associations of dietary quality with subjective health-related perception and chronic diseases were also examined. Methods: Based on data from the 7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 3,231 elderly were selected and categorized into 4 age groups of '65 ~ 69', '70 ~ 74', '75 ~ 79' and 'over 80'. Nutrient intakes, proportions of those with insufficient nutrient intakes, Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), some subjective health-related perceptions and prevalence of major chronic diseases were compared according to the age groups. Differences in the subjective health-related perceptions and odds ratios of the chronic diseases according to the quartile levels of KHEI within the same age group were analyzed. Results: With the increase of age, several nutrient intakes (P < 0.001) and KHEI scores significantly decreased (P < 0.01). In women, activity restriction increased (P < 0.05), and EQ-5D score decreased with age (P < 0.001). Prevalence of hypertension (P < 0.0001), hypercholesterolemia (P < 0.05) and anemia (P < 0.01) significantly increased, while hypertriglyceridemia (P < 0.01) significantly decreased only in men. Obesity prevalence decreased, while underweight prevalence increased (P < 0.05). Subjective health status, EQ-5D score and PHQ-9 score significantly improved as KHEI score increased in certain age groups of women (P < 0.05). Odds ratio of hypercholesterolemia significantly increased with the increase of KHEI score in 65 ~ 69-year-old women. However, hypertension and anemia significantly decreased with the increase of KHEI score in 75 ~ 79-year-old women (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The study findings suggest that nutrition management and policy for the Korean elderly need to apply a segmented age standard that can better reflect their dynamic characteristics.