Nutrition in old age : the importance for quality of life and longevity

• Inadequate nutrition status results in poor health outcomes, which in turn influence quality of life and longevity. Most research concerning malnutrition in old age has focus on people living in nursing homes or hospitals, while knowledge of the condition in the older population (i.e. in both community living older persons and persons living in nursing homes) are still scarce. Aim/Methods: This presentation, based on data from the Swedish national and longitudinal study of aging and care, (SNAC-B), includes a discussion about persons (n=1402, 60+ years) who were at risk of malnutrition during a 7-year follow-up, seen from a criterionbased nutrition assessment. Findings: The risk of malnutrition significantly increased the risk of poor physical and mental health related quality of life. Moreover, at baseline, 8.6% subjects were at risk of malnutrition and during the 7-year follow-up 34.6% subjects died. Risk of malnutrition and ADL dependence in combination predicted the poorest survival rate (18.7%, p<0.001). Conclusion: It is important to highlight older people’s functional ability both for prevention of undernutrition and promotion of quality of life and longevity.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Omvårdnad

Nursing

Health and Caring Sciences

Hälsovetenskap

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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