• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.475-483
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• 2000

The develop a simple screening test for identifying Korean elderly at risk of undernutrition, the data of the health-related habits, dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes of the elderly in Chongju were analyzed. Two risk indicators, mean adequacy ratio (MAR) and the respondents perceived health, were used to detect the undernutrition risk of the elderly. In order to select a list of questions for the test, factors a affecting nutritional status and items investigated in previous nutrition surveys of the elderly were considered, and 21 questions were primarily selected. A multiple regression and stepwise regression analysis were used to take out the weak predictors of poor nutrient intake, and to give item weights to the strong predictors, and a list of 17 questions was finally adopted. To determine the cut-point of the test score, sensitivity, and positive predictive values were calculated. The Simple Screening Test developed in this study is a brief, easily scored tool to predict poor nutrient intake and the perceived health status of the elderly. The test may provide a basis of further comprehensive nutritional assessment or intervention planning, if necessary, for those who are diagnosed ad "high risk". The test, however, needs to be independently validated by other groups of individuals.dividuals.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.864-872
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• 2000

This study intended to evaluate the validity of the simple nutrition screening test that had been developed with the elderly living in Cheongju as a subject. Nutrition screening score(NSS) and reference standards for nutritional and health status(nutrient intakes, mean adequacy ratio, perceive health, and serum albumin, hematocrit, and hemoglobin) were estimated by using the date obtained in 1996 from the 174 elderly living in Taejon, Statistical analysis showed significant correlations between mean adequacy ratio(MAR) and NSS(r=0.341) and also between NSS and biological indices such as albumin and hematocrit, Around 65-75% of the elderly with perceive health and low level of serum albumin, hemoglobin and hematocrit had NSS$\leq$ll. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values(PPV) were calculated from the crosstabulation of the three categories of NSS(high, moderate, and low nutritional risk) and low categories MAR(< 0.75, undernutrition;$\geq$0.75, normal) to validate the cut-off point for high or low nutritional risk by NSS. It was suggested that point l1 was appropriate as a criterion to determine high risk of undernutrition, but point 16 was better than 17 as criterion to determine low nutritional risk in the Taejon elderly. When point ll was used as a criterion of high nutritional risk, sensitivity, specificity, and PPV are 59.5, 60.5 and 82.1 respectively. When point 16 was used as a criterion of low nutritional risk, sensitivity, specificity, and PPV are 25.6, 95.4, and 64.7%, respectively. In conclusion, nutrition screening test that had been developed can be a simple, easy, and proper instrument to classify the high risk group of undernutrition. A further validation study seems to be required among other groups of individuals for the screening test to the finalized as a more valid instrument identifying Korean elderly at nutrition and health risk(Korean J Nutrition 33(8) : 864-872, 2000)

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2016

Purpose: Undernutrition during hospitalization increases the risk of nosocomial infection and lengthens the disease courses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of weight loss during hospitalization in children. Methods: All the patients who were admitted in general wards between April and May 2014 were enrolled. Patients aged >18 years and discharged within 2 days were excluded. Weight loss during hospitalization was defined as a decrease in body weight of >2% in 8 hospital days or on the day of discharge. Patients who lost body weight during hospitalization were compared with patients who maintained their body weights. Significant parameters were evaluated by using the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: We enrolled 602 patients, of whom 149 (24.8%) lost >2% of their body weight. Complaint of pain (p=0.004), admission to the surgical department (p=0.001), undergoing surgery (p=0.044), undergoing abdominal surgery (p=0.034), and nil per os (NPO) durations (p=0.003) were related to weight loss during hospitalization. The patients who had high weight-for-age tended to lose more body weight (p=0.001). Admission to the surgical department (odds ratio [OR], 1.668; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.054-2.637; p=0.029) and long NPO durations (OR, 1.496; 95% CI, 1.102-2.031; p=0.010) were independent risk factors of weight loss during hospitalization. The patients with high weight-for-age tended to lose more weight during hospitalization (OR, 1.188; 95% CI, 1.029-1.371; p=0.019). Conclusion: Greater care in terms of nutrition should be taken for patients who are admitted in the surgical department and have prolonged duration of nothing by mouth.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.645-653
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• 2005

The prevalence of undernutrition in hospital populations is known to be high. The presence of malnutrition is associated with depression, infections, sarcopaenia, falls, fractures, reduced autonomy and increased mortality. This study specifically examined the prevalence of malnutrition in patients aged 65 or older at the time of admission as determined by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) which has been a frequently used nutritional risk screening tools in detecting undernutrition in old people. This study was done for one hundred eight hospitalized geriatric patients in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Korea. On admission baseline history, anthropometrics measurements, laboratory data and nutritional status by MNA were assessed. Length of hospital stay was obtained by reviewing medical charts. We used one-way analysis of variance to compare the differences in variables. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated for associations between MNA and variables. On admission, $22.3\%$ of patients were malnourished and $40.7\%$ were at risk of malnutrition according to the MNA. Percent of ideal body weight, anthropometrics data, albumin, and hemoglobin were lower in the malnourished patients (p<0.05). The malnourished patients stayed in the hospital 7.3 days longer, as compared with well nourished patients (p<0.05). Percent of ideal body weight, albumin, hemoglobin and total cholesterol were correlated inversely with nutritional status according to MNA (p<0.05). MNA can be used for nutritional assessment in Korean old people, because MNA significantly correlated with other nutritional assessment parameters, such as, anthropometric and laboratory data in hospitalized geriatric patients. The high prevalence of malnutrition in the elderly was observed and the presence of malnutrition on admission predicted a significant increase in the length of hospital stay in this study. Therefore further studies are needed to determine whether nutritional interventions in old people with low MNA scores can improve clinical outcomes during the hospital course.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.193-204
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• 2007

This research has done for 67 undernutrition people of the aged men and women that are practiced follow-up nutrition intervention programs for 9weeks. The result of health related status, eating habit, food attitude and food intake for 2days is as following. 37.3% of objected old people are drinking, 20.9% of those are smoking and 29.9% of those are exercising. 55.2% of objected old people of the second intervention program about self-rated health say good. Sleeping hours of 25.4% of objected old people is from 6 to 8 hours. Meal amount and appetite above 98% of objected old people, compared to those of before sixty age, are decreasing and similar. 67.8% or 70.1% of the objected old people, compared to those of before sixty age, say same in sweet and salt taste. More significantly increased food group in after intervention than before intervention is vegetables and animal foods. There is no difference between management group and comparison group by ANCOVA analysis. DDS and DVS in management group are no significant differences between before intervention and after intervention.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.222-229
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Aging is an imperative problem for many countries in this century, and presents several challenges for the maintenance of good nutritional status. This study aims to assess the impact of socio-demographic factors, lifestyle and health status on the nutritional status among the elderly in Taiwan. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Taiwan. Data were obtained from the Mei Jau Health Management Institution, which is a private health evaluation provider with multiple health screening centers in Taiwan and Asia. This study included 7947 adults aged 65 years or above. The data were extracted between 2001 to 2010. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric data, biochemical data and dietary intake information. RESULTS: Among the 7947 participants with mean age of 70.1 (SD = 4.5) years, 20.2%, 6.6%, 10.5% and 52.5% experienced underweight, protein malnutrition, anemia and inadequate dietary intake in the past month, respectively. Age was negatively correlated with body weight (r = -0.19, P = 0.02), body mass index (r = -0.41, P < 0.001), albumin level (r = -0.93, P < 0.001) and hemoglobin level (r = -0.30, P = 0.008). Age above 70 years, gender, unmarried status, retirement, lack of education, low family income, smoking, alcohol drinking, sleep duration of 6-8 hours, vegetarian diet, multiple medications, comorbidity and dysphagia were positively associated with malnutrition in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Underweight and inadequate dietary intake are prevalent among the elderly in Taiwan. Vegetarian diet, multiple medications, comorbidity, dysphagia and lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol drinking and sleep duration of 6-8 hours are risk factors for undernutrition in older adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2015

The present study investigated the risk and prevalence of dysphagia as well as related factors among free-living elders. Subjects were 419 elderly men (116) and women (303) aged 65 years and older ($74.49{\pm}4.70y$) living in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheongbuk-do area in Korea. Data were collected by personal interviews using questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, and chi-square test. Prevalence of dysphagia was 53.50% among participants. Risk of dysphagia was significantly different according to age (P<0.001), use of dentures (P<0.05), and activities of daily living (P<0.05). Moreover, dysphagia risk group had significant food intake problems, including poor appetite, smaller portions to reach satiety, frequent meal skipping, as well as poor taste compared to the normal group, accompanied by high risk of weight loss as assessed by simplified nutritional appetite questionnaire (P<0.01). Taken together, risk of dysphagia was more prevalent in older people, affecting the majority of those living independently in the community. This could indicate an association with undernutrition due to factors affecting food intake.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.340-353
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• 2009

It is very important to screen the elderly for nutritional risk, because nutritional status is a critical factor to maintain their health. Some nutrition checklists used in Korea for the elderly are from other countries. Reliability of those checklist in Korea is not studied enough. This survey was done for the elderly over 65-years-old who live in Hong-cheon, An-dong, Dam-yang and Yeon-gi in Korea (subject; summer: 146, winter: 145) to study the reliability of DETERMINE checklist which is adopted widely in Korea. Using the score of DETERMINE checklist, the elderly were divided as high, middle and low risk groups. For nutritional assessment for those elderly, dietary assessment using 24 recall, anthropometry, biochemical assessment and health condition were used. Results for the checklist showed that percentage below EAR for energy intake and protein intake in winter were higher in the high risk group than other groups. The intakes of phosphorus and iron and most vitamins were below the DRI. The percentage of subjects with intake below DRI was highest in the high risk group. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values using the DETERMINE were calculated using 6 point as a cut-off point. Subjects were divided into two groups by MAR (MAR < 0.75:undernutrition, MAR < 0.75 : normal). Sensitivity recorded 49.4% and 34.3%, specificity did 61.9% and 65.4 and Positive predictive value did 62.1% and 46.0% each for summer and winter. Results of screening using DETERMINE Checklist were not matched with dietary assessment but not with anthropometric and biochemical measurement. In conclusion DETERMINE 'Checklist' is shown be a good screening tool for finding out risk groups for dietary intake in the elderly, It needs to verify reliability and validity through large-scale survey.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of elderly Korean women and to investigate related factors. Methods: A total of 100 elderly women attending a local elderly welfare center were recruited for study. Evaluation criteria included demographics, clinical status, nutritional status (using a mini-nutritional assessment), food intake, and nutritional bioparameters, including homocysteine, transferrin, prealbumin and lymphocyte levels, and their antioxidant power status. Results: Among the test group, 83% of the subjects were classified as undernourished, and they often had hyperlipidemia and a lower intake of fiber ($p$ <.05, respectively) and vegetables than normal subjects. In a correlation analysis, their nutritional status was associated with abdominal circumference, the Korean Geriatric Depression Scale score and the Enriched Social Support Inventory score. Nutritional bioparameters and antioxidant power were associated with age among undernourished subjects. Old age, the prevalence of hyperlipidemia, and poor social support significantly increased the risk of undernutrition. Poor social support, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and depression significantly increased the risk of nutritional deficiency after controlling for age, educational and economic variables. Conclusion: More strategies to increase social support in the Korean female elderly population may improve their nutritional status.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.343-350
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of nutrition related factors on mortality risk among community-residing older adults in Korea. We analyzed data from 8,532 older adults who took part in the 2008 living profiles of older people survey and 2011 death mortality data. According to Cox regression analysis, male (Hazard Ratio [HR], 2.03; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.74~2.37), diabetes mellitus (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.12~1.64), underweighted (HR, 2.68; 95% CI, 2.16~3.31), dysphagia (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.02~1.47), chewing ability (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.11~1.59), and undernutrition (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.23~1.75) significantly affected mortality risk. Systematic nutrition support programs should be developed to decrease the mortality among Korean older adults.