Condiciones de vida, estado nutricional y estado de salud en adultos mayores, Córdoba, Argentina

Socioeconomic Status and Nutritional Status as Predictors of Food Insecurity in Older Adults: A Case Study from Southern Ecuador

While life expectancy is increasing due to scientific advancement, quality of life in aging depends, among other factors, on the nutritional status and socioeconomic status of older adults. To determine socioeconomic status and its association with nutritional status as a predictor of food insecurity among older adults in southern Ecuador, a cross-sectional study of 188 older adults in urban areas and 212 in rural areas was conducted. Nutritional status, food insecurity, and socioeconomic status were measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS v 15.0 for descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis. Of the older participants, 59% had malnutrition, the majority women, and 24.7% were in poverty. Underweight was associated with low socioeconomic status for adults between 65 and 74 years old (OR = 7.710; CI 95% = 1.691-35.147), while obesity was associated with low socioeconomic status and non-manual labor (OR = 3.048; CI 95% = 1.268-7.326). Over 80% of older adults living in homes without children younger than 18 and at low socioeconomic status had food insecurity. The prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity points to widespread nutritional problems, especially in rural areas, that are significantly associated with low socioeconomic status. This demonstrates the need for multidisciplinary programs and government policies that can contribute to reducing food insecurity among the highly vulnerable older population.

Prevalence of Geriatric Depression and Alexithymia and their association with sociodemographic characteristics in a sample of elderly persons living in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of Geriatric Depression and Alexithymia and their association with sociodemographic characteristics in independent elderly persons without known depression. Method: a cross-sectional study was conducted, based on a non-probabilistic, intentional type sampling strategy. A total of 176 independent men and women aged over 60 years residing in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, were evaluated through individual interviews using the following instruments: a sociodemographic (ad hoc) questionnaire, an adapted version of the questionnaire of the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (V-15) and the Latin American Alexithymia LAC TAS-20 Scale. The Chi-squared and Student's t-tests were used and the Odds Ratio was calculated, with a probability of error less than or equal to 0.05. Results: The mean age was 73 years (+7.1 years) and 72.7% of the participants were women. The prevalence of Geriatric Depression was 35.8%, while that of Alexithymia was 50.6%. The presence of Geriatric Depression was significantly associated with the female gender and with individuals who did not work. High Alexithymia values were observed among those with primary education and a low occupational level. Conclusion: The evaluation of Geriatric Depression and Alexithymia in clinical care is recommended, and the social determinants of the health of the elderly should also be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.