Nutritional Status and Related Factors of Residents Aged Over 50 in Longevity Areas: II. Effect of Dietary Factors on Bone Ultrasound Measurements in Aged Men

This study was conducted to examine dietary factors affecting bone status in the rural aged men. Quantitative ultrasound measurements (QUS) of bone, that may reflect certain architectural aspects of bone, have been shown to be associated with bone mineral density and fracture. Information of diet and anthropometry was collected in 164 aged men. Dietary intake data were obtained by 24-hour recall method. Measurements of the speed of sound (SOS, m/s), at distal radius, mid-tibia, phalanx, were performed using Omnisense 7000S analyzer (Sunlight Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel). T-scores for bone SOS measurements at distal radius, mid-tibia and phalanx were 0.60, 0.03 and -0.42 respectively. The prevalence of osteopenia by use of the WHO criteria was 17.7% at the mid-tibia and 25.3% of the subjects at the distal radius. Age were negative association with bone SOS at three sites. Osteopenia group of radius were significantly lower in total foods and vegetable intakes than normal group. After adjusted for age, vegetable intakes were significantly and positively related to bone SOS at the radius. The bone SOS of the tibia were significantly and positively related to vegetable protein, iron, folate and vegetable intakes, but negatively related to fat intakes. Multiple regression analysis showed that bone SOS of tibia was positively associated with folate intakes. Vegetable intakes were positively associated with the bone SOS at three sites. These results indicate that the consumption of vegetables, sources of folate, may have a effect on bone status of men.

Related Factors of Physical Function in a Rural Aged People

BACKGROUNDS: To investigate the physical functioning state of the rural aged people and its related factors. METHODS: 458 older people aged 65 years or older living in a rural area were interviewed fromAug. 6 to Aug. 9, 2003. Socioeconomic characteristics, structural and functional social supports, chronic disease, stress, and obesity(using body mass index) were included to explore their influencing physical functioning. Physical functioning was measured by Physical Functioning(PF) scale constructed by 2-factor(mobility and self-care). Cronbach's alpha of social support and PF scales were 0.91, 0.89 respectively. After univariate analysis, multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify major contributing factors to physical functioning. RESULTS: 1) Person of younger age, higher education level, having job, higher economic status were more likely to show a higher degree of physical functioning in both male and female. 2) In those who having spouse, the physical functioning scores were significantly higher. And the aged people with high social support got higher physical functioning score. 3) In male with diabetes, physical functioning score were significantly lower. In female with arthritis, physical functioning score were significantly lower. 4) For the aged people which having higher stress, the physical function wasn't good. 5) In multiple regression analysis, for both male and female, physical functioning of those who have no job, lower social support, higher stress was bad. In male with chronic disease and female with arthritis, the physical functional score was lower. CONCLUSION: The physical functioning of some rural aged people were affected by various factors such as social, psychological, economic and physical factors. So diverse policy and programwill be necessary for improve physical functioning of rural older people.

Health status and medical care utilization patterns of rural aged / 예방의학회지

To find out the state of illness, patterns of medical care utilization, and factors which determine medical care utilization for aged we surveyed 679 rural old persons who live in the Chungnam province from Jan. 10 1991 to Jan. 19. The major findings of this study were as follows; 1. The morbidity rate of chronic illness during last 3 months was 56.4% for all surveyed old persons; 58.7% for female and 52.8% for male. 2. As expected, 80 years old or above group showed the highest morbidity rate, 60.2% and the 65-69 years age group was the lowest, 50.5%. 3. Old persons who are householder, whose family income is less than 290,000 won per month, and who receive benefits from the public medical assistance program had relative higher morbidity rate than other groups and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). 4. The most frequent chronic illness was musculoskeletal disease, 49.6%; the disease from which the aged had suffered for the longest period was gastrointestinal, 11.6yrs; the cerebrovascular was the disease which inflicts the lowest level of physical ability. 5. 67.1% of 383 persons who were suffering from chronic illness were in need of medical care but unmet; among the remaining 32.9% who utilized medical care, 19.2% utilized it in local clinics or hospital OPD and 15% in the health centers of subcenters. 6. Old person who are married, whose sons are householder and whose family income is 500,000 won or above per month showed relative higher utilization rate than other groups and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). 7. The most common reason why the aged did not utilize, in spite of, need medical care was economic problem, 35.4%. For the aged whose family income per month is 500,000 won or above, however the most common reason was tolerable symptom, 46.9% while persons who answered economic problem were 6.1% of them, the lowest frequency.