Factors associated with (risk of) undernutrition in community-dwelling older adults receiving home care: a cross-sectional study in the Netherlands

Rachel van der Pols-Vijlbrief*, Hanneke Ah Wijnhoven, Hilde Molenaar, Marjolein Visser

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: It is generally thought that causes of undernutrition are multifactorial, but there are limited quantitative studies performed. We therefore examined a wide range of potential factors associated with undernutrition in community-dwelling older adults.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) receiving home care in the Netherlands.

SUBJECTS: Data on potential factors associated with (risk of) undernutrition were collected among 300 older adults. Nutritional status was assessed by the SNAQ65+ instrument. Undernutrition was defined as mid-upper arm circumference <25 cm or unintentional weight loss of ≥4 kg in 6 months. Being at risk of undernutrition was defined as having poor appetite and inability to walk up and down stairs of fifteen steps, without resting.

RESULTS: Of all participants, ninety-two (31·7 %) were undernourished and twenty-four (8·0 %) were at risk of undernutrition. Based on multivariate logistic regression analyses, the statistically significant factors associated with (risk of) undernutrition (P<0·05) were: unable to go outside (OR=5·39), intestinal problems (OR=2·88), smoking (OR=2·56), osteoporosis (OR=2·46), eating fewer than three snacks daily (OR=2·61), dependency in activities of daily living (OR=1·21), physical inactivity (OR=2·01), nausea (OR=2·50) and cancer (OR=2·84); a borderline significant factor was depression symptoms (OR=1·83, P=0·053).

CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that (risk of) undernutrition is a multifactorial problem and that associated factors can be found in several domains. These findings may support the development of intervention trials for the prevention and treatment of undernutrition in community-dwelling older adults.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2278-2289
Number of pages12
JournalPublic Health Nutrition
Volume19
Issue number12
Early online date29 Feb 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2016

Keywords

  • Community-dwelling
  • Cross-sectional
  • Mid-upper arm circumference
  • Older adults
  • Weight loss

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Factors associated with (risk of) undernutrition in community-dwelling older adults receiving home care: a cross-sectional study in the Netherlands'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this