[Nutritional status of elderly Brazilians: a multilevel approach]

Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN) coverage, nutritional status of older adults and its relationship with social inequalities in Brazil, 2008-2019: an ecological time-series study

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the temporal trend of Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional - SISVAN) coverage and the nutritional status of older adults, and its correlation with indicators of social inequality in Brazil between 2008-2019.

METHODS

this was an ecological study using records from SISVAN, related to the population aged 60 years and older; the temporal trend of coverage and the correlation between indicators of social inequality and increment rate of nutritional status were analyzed; slope index of inequality and concentration index were used to measure absolute and relative inequalities.

RESULTS

11,587,933 records were identified; national coverage increased from 0.1% (2008) to 2.9% (2019), with a statistically significant upward trend; a moderate inverse correlation with an annual increment rate of overweight between human development index and gross domestic product per capita, was found.

CONCLUSION

there was an increasing trend in SISVAN coverage; the increase in overweight was associated with social inequality.

Temporal trend in venous thromboembolism hospitalization rates in Brazilian older adults, 2010-2020

Aging is one of the main risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Changes in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for this condition in recent years require an analysis of its rates in health services. The objective of this study was to analyze a temporal trend of hospitalizations for VTE in Brazilian older adults. This ecological time series study used data from the Hospital Information System (HIS) on VTE hospitalizations from 2010 to 2020, selecting admissions with the main diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) (I.26.0, I.26.9) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (I.80.0, I80.1, I80.2, I80.3, I80.8, I80.9). Hospitalization rates were calculated for each year and the Prais-Winsten. In Brazil, the trend of hospitalizations for VTE decreased, with an annual percentage change of - 40.71 (confidence interval [CI] - 50.46; - 29.04). DVT decreased, with an annual percentage change of - 43.14 (95% confidence interval [CI] - 51.36; - 33.54). All Brazilian regions showed a downward trend in hospitalizations for VTE and DVT, except for the Northeast region, which remained stable. Conversely, the trend of hospitalizations for PTE showed an upward in Brazil, with an annual percentage change of 4.33 (95% CI 1.26; 7.48). An upward trend was observed in hospitalizations for PTE in the Northeast region, and a stationary trend was observed in the other regions. The results showed a downward trend in hospitalization rates for DVT and an upward trend for PTE. The study indicates regional differences in rates and trends.

Central adiposity as a predictor of mortality in older adults: Identification of cutoffs using generalized additive models

Background

Obesity is associated with premature mortality in adults; however, this association has been inconsistent in the older adult population. In addition, there is a lack of specific cutoff points for indicators of negative health outcomes in older adults. Methods: This is a prospective study with 796 non-institutionalized older adults. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, food consumption, and nutritional status were obtained at baseline. Generalized additive models were used to identify cutoff points for the waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and Cox proportional hazards models to assess the independent association between adiposity and mortality.

Results

Over the 9 years of follow-up, 197 deaths (24.7%) occurred, of which 51.8% were men, with a mean age of 76.1 ± 9.0 years. Older adults at higher risk of death had WHtR of <0.52 or ≥0.63 and WC of <83 cm or ≥101 cm. An increased risk of death was observed in older adults with high WC (HR: 2.03 95% CI: 1.20-3.41) and high WHtR (HR: 1.51 95% CI: 1.01-2.26) in the adjusted models, and an increase in WC was a risk factor for higher CVD mortality (HR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.12-3.88) in the adjusted models.

Conclusion

Adiposity was associated with an increased risk of death in older adults. In view of these results and considering the lack of cutoff points for anthropometric indices in Brazilian older adults, further studies are needed to confirm the WC and WHtR cutoff values found in this study.

Double Burden of Malnutrition and Inequalities in the Nutritional Status of Adults: A Population-Based Study in Brazil, 2019

Objective: To describe the inequalities in the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) in the adult population.

Methods: Study carried out with data from the VIGITEL study, conducted in 2019 in all Brazilian capitals. Underweight and excess weight were evaluated on the basis of years of schooling and age. Multi-level analysis was performed including Human Development Index of each capital and individual-level variables. The inequality slope index was used to assess the magnitude of the inequalities found. All analyses considered the svy command owing to the complexity of the sampling process.

Results: 47.119 individuals were studied. Men with no education had 6 percentage points more underweight compared to those with higher education. Higher prevalence of excess weight was found among men with higher education and women with no education. In women, the difference was 18 percentage points between extreme categories. Elderly people with no education had 10 percentage points more excess weight than those with higher education.

Conclusions: The findings suggest the need for intersectoral actions that can cope with the social inequalities and help confronting with the DBM in Brazil.

Calf circumference is an independent predictor of mortality in older adults: An approach with generalized additive models

BACKGROUND

There is a wide variation in the cutoff points of body mass index (BMI) and calf circumference (CC) , and it is necessary to assess their adequacy in predicting mortality, especially in the older adults in the community. This study aimed to investigate the association of low muscle mass and underweight with mortality in older adults, comparing different cutoff points.

METHODS

This was a prospective study that included 796 older adults, not institutionalized, from a Brazilian city. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to identify cutoff points for CC and BMI, which were compared with values available in the literature. Survival analysis using Cox regression models was used to assess the independent association between these nutrition indicators and mortality.

RESULTS

Over the 9 years of follow-up, 197 deaths (24.7%) occurred. Cutoff points established for CC and BMI as predictors of mortality were, respectively, <34.5 cm and <24.5. In the adjusted Cox models, older adults with a BMI <18.5 showed a significant increase in the risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 2.57; 95% CI, 1.23-5.35). Higher mortality was observed among older adults with CC <34.5 cm (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.27-2.33) and CC <31 cm (HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.44-3.10).

CONCLUSION

CC was an independent predictor of mortality, and the cutoff point identified by GAMs was higher than recommended by literature (31 cm). This study suggests a review of cutoff points for CC currently adopted to assess low muscle mass in older adults.

Food insecurity and nutritional status among older adults: a systematic review

CONTEXT

Food insecurity (FI), characterized by difficulty or inability to access adequate food, has become a public health problem.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze studies relating FI with nutritional status (NS) among older adults and the associated factors.

DATA SEARCH

Articles published up to June 2020 were investigated in 5 databases: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, LILACS, and Web of Science. The search, selection, extraction, and quality evaluation were carried out by 2 reviewers.

DATA EXTRACTION

The authors identified characteristics of the studies and the main data regarding the relationship of interest.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies were included in the review and their characteristics are summarized and presented using narrative synthesis. In 10 studies (45.4%), a relationship was observed between FI and malnutrition; in another 6 (27.3%), a relationship was observed between FI and being overweight.

CONCLUSION

A relationship was identified between FI, especially severe forms, and malnutrition, as well as between FI, especially mild forms, and people being overweight. Thus, FI among older adults relates to a 2-fold burden of nutritional outcomes, depending on the level.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020185086.

Which anthropometric measures best identify excess weight in older adults?

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with excess weight in older adults according to body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), as well as to measure the differences between the prevalences estimated by WC and WtHR in relation to BMI. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 – 2017 with 549 older adults (72–102 years) from Campinas and Ermelino Matarazzo, two cities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Excess weight was defined according to cut-off points established for older adults. Multiple Poisson regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The overweight/obesity prevalences were 47.36% (BMI), 61.38% (WC) and 65.57% (WtHR), being higher in women and in those with hypertension, diabetes, polypharmacy, and normal calf circumference. They were also higher in the youngest age strata (BMI and WC), in those with arthritis/rheumatism (BMI), and in those with slow gait (WtHR). The estimated overweight/obesity prevalences according to WC and WtHR were 29.00% and 38.00% higher, respectively, than BMI. In the multiple model, there was a higher prevalence of adiposity among diabetics and those with normal calf circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Measures of abdominal adiposity provided a better diagnosis of excess weight. We recommended that health professionals consider using WtHR in anthropometric assessment of older adults, especially regarding adiposity.

Equation of height estimation from knee height: Performance in the composition of body adiposity INDICES in older adults

AIM

To propose an equation to estimate height and evaluate it's performance in the composition of adiposity indicators in community-dwelling older adults in Brazil.

METHODS

It is a cross-sectional study with 675 community-dwelling older adults (≥60 anos). Interviews and anthropometric measurements were taken at subjects' homes. Body mass index (BMI), body adiposity index (BAI), waist height ratio (WHR), and conicity index (CI) were calculated. The height estimation equation was obtained by multiple linear regression. Concordance between height and the indicators measured and estimated was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cohen's Kappa and Weighted Kappa indexes. Concordance was also evaluated by the Bland and Altman graphical approach.

RESULTS

Equations of height estimation composed of knee height, sex, and schooling were proposed and stratified by age group (60-74 years and ≥75 years). In both age groups, almost perfect agreement (ICC ≥ 0.915 and Kappa ≥0.81) was found between height and adiposity indicators estimated and measured.

CONCLUSION

The equation proposed is suitable to estimate height of the older adults, and can be a valuable tool for the evaluation of the nutritional status of Brazilian older adults in the community.

Spatial distribution and associated factors of underweight in Ethiopia: An analysis of Ethiopian demographic and health survey, 2016

Background

Underweight is one form of indicators of under-nutrition, which results from the poor nutrient intake and underlying health problems. Its impact is beyond an individual and extends to a country level. It has been known from the literature that underweight has a negative effect on income and development of a country. In the context of Ethiopia, factors predicting underweight remain unknown and there is a paucity of evidence on geographical distribution of underweight among individuals aged 15–49 years. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the geographic distribution of underweight and its associated factors among individuals aged 15–49 years in Ethiopia.

Methods

Secondary data analysis was done on a data set consisting of 28,450 individuals and obtained from the Ethiopian Demography and Health Survey (EDHS) 2016. The spatial distribution of underweight across the country was identified by ArcGIS software. Hotspots analysis was done using Getis-Ord Gi* statistic within ArcGIS. In SaTScan software, the Bernoulli model was fitted by Kulldorff’s methods to identify the purely spatial clusters of underweight. A binary logistic regression was applied to determine factors associated with being underweight.

Result

In Ethiopia, the spatial distribution of underweight was clustered with Global Moran’s I  =  0.79 at p-value < 0.0001. The highest underweight clusters were observed in Tigray, Gambella, eastern part of Amhara, and western and central part of Afar regions. Male individuals [AOR = 1.21; 95% CI: (1.15 1.28)], never married [AOR = 1.14; 95% CI: (1.05, 1.24)], rural residents [AOR = 1.32; 95% CI: (1.18, 1.47)], rich [AOR = 0.85; 95% CI: (0.76, 0.94)], cigarette smoking [AOR = 1.25; 95% CI: (1.07, 1.46)], drinking treated water [AOR = 0.91; 95% CI: (0.83, 0.99)] and open filed defecation [AOR = 1.17; 95% CI: (1.08, 1.26)] were found to have a significant association with being underweight.

Conclusions

There was a significant clustering of underweight among individuals aged 15–49 years. Gender, age, marital status, place of residence, wealth index, cigarette smoking, using untreated water and types of toilet were the significant factors of being underweight. Therefore, effective public health interventions like building safe and supportive environments for nutrition, providing socio-economic protection and nutrition-related education for poor and rural resident would be better to mitigate these situations and associated risk factors in hot spot areas. In addition, policymakers should strengthen and promote nutrition sensitive policies and activities in order to alleviate the underlying and basic causes of underweight.

Avaliação do paladar de idosos e sua relação com estado nutricional e hábitos alimentares

Objetivos: avaliar a prevalência de disgeusia (distorção ou diminuição do paladar) e a associação com o estado nutricional e as práticas alimentares em um grupo de idosos, assim como identificar os gostos mais afetados e preservados.Métodos: estudo transversal com amostra recrutada no Centro de Lazer para idosos no município de Porto Alegre, RS. Avaliou-se o paladar, através de tiras gustativas (“tastestrips”), e o estado nutricional, através do Índice de Massa Corporal. As práticas alimentares foram investigadas através de questionário. Para análise estatística utilizou-se os testes qui-quadrado e ANOVA, com nível de significância de p <0,05.Resultados: foram avaliados 62 idosos (84% feminino, média de 70±7,6 anos), prevalência de disgeusia foi 19,4% (n=12), detectou-se 58% de sobrepeso (n=36), 40,5% de eutrofia (n=25) e 1,5% de baixo peso (n=1), não sendo encontrada associação entre alteração de paladar e estado nutricional (p=0,397). Cerca de 55% dos idosos apresentaram consumo elevado de sódio. Não houve diferença na média de pontos para o gosto ácido entre os idosos que temperam a salada com limão ou vinagre e os que não o fazem (p=0,054 e p=0,935, respectivamente). A média de pontos para o gosto salgado não diferiu entre os que preparam as refeições com temperos ricos em sódio e os que não os utilizam (p=0,055). O doce foi o gosto mais preservado, enquanto o ácido mostrou-se mais reduzido.Conclusões: apesar de evidências contrárias, não se identificou impacto das alterações de paladar sobre o estado nutricional e as práticas alimentares. Ainda assim, novos estudos que incluam essas variáveis se fazem necessários.

Síndrome metabólica em idosos diabéticos tipo 2 atendidos em ambulatório de uma capital brasileira

Objetivo: identificar a prevalência de síndrome metabólica e seus fatores associados em idosos com diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Métodos: estudo descritivo observacional realizado com idosos diagnosticados com diabetes mellitus tipo 2, no período de 2017-2018, recrutados no Ambulatório de Nutrição/Diabetes do Núcleo de Assistência ao Idoso da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Foram coletados os dados: sexo e faixa etária e, para a avaliação antropométrica dos participantes, foram mensurados o índice de massa corporal e a circunferência de cintura. Também foram coletados os valores de colesterol total e frações, além de glicemia em jejum, hemoglobina glicosilada e diagnóstico prévio de hipertensão arterial. Para analisar os dados obtidos foram utilizados os testes t de Student, Qui-quadrado de Pearson e teste de MannWhitney. Para as análises, foi adotado um intervalo de confiança de 95% e nível de significância de 0,05. Resultados: a amostra foi de 273 participantes, com média de idade de 68,77±5,65 anos e cerca de 89,8% (n=158) apresentaram síndrome metabólica. A presença dessa condição foi associada a valores maiores de peso corporal (p=0,04), índice de massa corporal (p=0,003), circunferência de cintura (p<0,001) e glicemia em jejum (p=0,007). Conclusões: ocorreu alta prevalência de síndrome metabólica nos idosos estudados com essa condição associada a valores maiores de peso corporal, índice de massa corporal, circunferência de cintura e glicemia em jejum. Esses achados demonstram a importância na identificação precoce e na intervenção preventiva dessas condições na população idosa, diminuindo a morbimortalidade por ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares e melhorando sua qualidade de vida.

Cardiovascular Risk in Women Deprived of Freedom from a Public Prison in Mato Grosso, Brazil

INTRODUCTION

Cardiovascular diseases occur worldwide and have progressively affected the female sex, without distinction of life context; however, the prison environment may intensify the risk of developing them.

AIM

To evaluate the cardiovascular risk in women deprived of freedom from a public prison in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

METHODS

This is a quantitative, cross-sectional and analytical study performed with all incarcerated women from the prison institution in the second half of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, through a structured questionnaire and statistical analysis through the RStudio.

RESULTS

The results showed that, although participants presented low cardiovascular risk, the BMI values pointed to overweight in all the years analyzed, in addition to the waist-to-height ratio, conicity index, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio presenting similar means or that transcend the established cutoff point. There was an association between the anthropometric variables and age, conjugal status, education, alcoholism, systolic blood pressure, metabolic complications, sleep and a family history of non-communicable chronic diseases. The BMI variable showed association with all anthropometric variables related to cardiovascular risk, except to WHR.

CONCLUSION

When considering the ambience factor, modifiable risk factors may negatively influence the long-term health of these women, particularly in relation to the cardiovascular system. The found scenario, in relation to the cardiovascular risk, points to the need for interventions, regarding the clinical condition and life-styles adopted by this population.

[Relationship between vigorous physical activity and body composition in older adults]

Introduction

Objective: the objective of the present study was to analyze the relationship between vigorous physical activity and body composition in older people who attend primary care centers. Material and methods: this study is characterized by being a descriptive, cross-sectional epidemiological study in 654 older adults (288 men and 366 women), most of them between 60 and 69 years of age (59 %), attending primary care centers in the city of Maringá, Brazil. The participants were evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), anthropometric measurements, and a sociodemographic questionnaire to characterize the sample. Results: older adults who practice physical activities in primary care centers with vigorous intensity are associated with lower abdominal circumference, waist, hip, quadriceps, and calf measurements when compared to older people with low or moderate levels of physical activity. Conclusions: the practice of vigorous physical activity is related to low body perimeters (abdominal, hip, waist, calf) in older adults who attend primary care centers.

Effect of body mass index and fat mass on balance force platform measurements during a one-legged stance in older adults

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) and fat mass on balance force platform measurements in older adults. The sample consisted of 257 participants who were stratified into four groups by BMI: low weight, normal weight, pre-obesity and obesity. For fat mass variables, older individuals were classified into low and high-fat mass. All groups investigated performed three trials of one-legged stance balance on a force platform. Center of pressure (COP) domain parameters were computed from the mean across trials. Analysis of variance results revealed no significant interactions for groups and sexes for all COP parameters. Comparable balance results were found for BMI and fat groups for all COP parameters. A statistical effect (P < 0.05) was only reported for sex differences for COP parameters, regardless of BMI and fat mass variables. Overall, women presented better balance than men. In conclusion, BMI and fat mass do not seem to influence the balance of older adults during a one-leg stance task.