Antropometric and Health Status of the Elderly Women Attending a Health Promotion Program in an Urban Community / 대한지역사회영양학회지

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the health status of elderly women who attended in a Health Promotion Program of the Seo-gu Health Center in Daegu. The study subjects were 158 elderly women (over 65 years) in an urban community. The subjects were investigated by means of individual interviews using a questionnaire, Blood tests for analyzing their biochemical status were carried out. The average age of the study subjects was 70.9 +/- 2.3 years. Of the subject group 79.1% ranged in age from 65 to 74 year and 20.9% were over 75 years. With respect to health related factors, 23.4% of subjects drank alcoholic beverages and 15.2% of sujects currently smoker. The prevalence with chronic diseases was 51.9%, and 26.6% of the subjects were healthy. The diseases most frequently reported as having been or being treated were arthritis (38.1%), hypertension (21.4%), and diabetes (17.9%). The average height of subjects was below the standard established in the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances, while the average weight was close to the standard. The means of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 130.2 mmHg and 71.9 mmHg, respectively. The mean serum albumin level was 4.5 mg/dl, and the value of hemoglobin and hematocrit was 12.5 mg/dl and 0.7%, respectively. The mean serum cholesterol level was 207.1 mg/dl and the mean triglyceride level was 187.7 mg/dl. The serum lipid levels were higher then in those reported in research. The serum cholesterol levels of 71.5%of subjects were within the normal range. The GOT and GTP levels were within the moderate range. In conclusion, the health status of the elderly who attended the Health Promotion Program in the Seo-gu Health Center were very average. However, it was necessary to prepare a health management program to deal with the serum lipids so as to establish and maintain good health. When we carry out the health promotion program in a community, individual program of adequate to health status should be developed more.