RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Insufficient nutritional status is a frequent problem in the elderly, correlated with aging, diseases, but also environmental factors in this growing part of the population. Loneliness should be one of these factors. OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: the aim of the SOLINUT study was to determine the relationship between loneliness and nutritional status in persons aged over 70 years, in order to improve the detection and management of the isolated elderly at high risk of malnutrition. It was both an epidemiological and cross-sectional anthropological study, based on quantitative and qualitative nutritional and sociological investigation, carried out between March 2002 and May 2003 in 150 elderly persons (mean age 80.8 years, oldest subject 99 years) living alone at home. RESULTS: a large number of subjects had a dietary intake which was inadequate to cover their nutritional needs--42.6% less than 25 kcal/kg/day, threshold for undernutrition in the elderly--21.3% had established undernutrition, ( average in epidemiological studies in non isolated elderly populations: 3-7%)--44% were not able to carry a shopping bag weighing 5 kg and so could not buy their own food. Lastly, 32% never shared a meal with family or friends, which reveals their degree of social isolation. CONCLUSION: It has been demonstrated that greater coordination between the various service providers would prevent a large number of isolated persons from failing to obtain the various allocations and services available to them. We must stress the extreme importance of preemptive intervention, by an active screening policy which could simultaneously prevent undernutrition and encourage physical activity in isolated persons to avoid their becoming "excluded recluses".
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento/fisiología , Soledad/psicología , Desnutrición/epidemiología , Desnutrición/psicología , Estado Nutricional , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Evaluación Geriátrica , Humanos , Masculino , Evaluación Nutricional , Fenómenos Fisiológicos de la Nutrición , Necesidades Nutricionales , Calidad de Vida , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: to provide information and data on food and fluid intake of free-living elderly aged of 81-86 years old residing in the south of France. METHODS: using standardised methods data were collected from a random sample born between 1913 and 1918. The French study protocol again included data collection on dietary intake using a standardised modified dietary history consisting of a food frequency list and a 3-day estimated dietary record. RESULTS: Total dietary intake was generally low as compared to the recommended daily intake for elderly subjects. CONCLUSION: This descriptive part of the SENECA study gives the opportunity to have information on this growing segment of the population. These results should help to adapt the dietary guidelines for this category of the population.
