Factors Associated of Nutritional Status of Elderly in the Catchment Area of Bannonsombon Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital, Pak Chom District, Loei Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive study was aimed to investigate the factors associated with nutritional status of the elderly in the catchment area of Bannonsombon Subdistrict health promotion hospital of Pakchom District, Loei Province. The subjects consisted of 279elderly people aged 60 and over was sampling by systematic random sampling method. Personal characteristics and frequency of food consumption were collected by face to face interviewing using a structural questionnaire. 24-hour dietary recall method was used to obtain data of dietary intake. Body mass index was used to classify nutritional status of the subjects. Data was collected between March to April 2018. Multinomial logistic regression was analyzed the factors consisted of personal characteristics, dietary intake and physical activities associated with under-nutrition (BMI <18.5 kg/m²) and over-nutrition (BMI ≥23 kg/m²) compared with normal nutritional status (BMI 18.5-22.9 kg/m²).

The results found that majority (62.4%) of the subjects were female with mean age 68.9 years. The subjects were classified as obese, overweight, normal and underweight as 43.4%, 14.7%, 30.8%, and 11.1% respectively. Energy intake was 1,514 kcal per day, accounted for 84.0% of Thai recommendation. Calories distribution from carbohydrate, protein, and fat was 73.6%, 14.7% and 11.7% respectively. The factors which found significance associate with overweight compared with those with normal nutritional status were female with RRR=2.59 (95% CI: 1.43 to 4.70), age 60-69 years with RRR=2.65 (95% CI=1.45-4.83), energy intake >100% of the recommendation with RRR=2.34 (95% CI: 1.09 to 5.07) and the number of teeth >20 with RRR=1.87, 95% CI: 1.01 to 3.46). The finding did not show any factor significance associate with undernutrition of the subjects. Conclusion, over half of the elderly had overweight problems, especially female elderly and early age elderly. The result confirmed that high energy intake directly affects to over nutrition. The health care programs for the elderly should be specified according to the age group of the elderly. Weight control should be emphasized in younger elderly, especially in women elderly, with emphasis on reducing high energy diets.