Nutritional Status, Nutrients Intakes, and Health Status of Young-old and Old-old Homebound Elderly in Korea

Purpose: Number of the old-old elderly is rapidly increasing in Korea, but it is unclear whether there are differences between old-old and young-old elderly in nutritional status, nutrient intakes and health status. The gender differences in Korean elderly in these conditions also remains unknown. This study, therefore, investigated gender-associated differences in nutritional, health status and nutrient intakes and how they are related among young-old and old-old homebound elderly. Methods: Two hundred and eighty elderly who were attending a local elderly welfare center were recruited. Evaluation included demographic, nutritional and health status related data, nutritional intakes, and life style related factors including physical activity. Results: Of the 280 subjects, old-old were 147 (52.5%) and young-old were 133 (47.5%). Male old-old elderly had more often abdominal obesity than female old-old, but male old-old more often had malnutrition than female old-old. There were few differences in nutrient intakes between old-old male elderly and female elderly after energy intakes were controlled. Male old-old more often had less intake of beta carotene and Vitamin A than female old-old. On the other hand, male old-old elderly more often had hypercholesterolemia and hypertension than male young-old. Conclusion: Male old-old may be at a greater health and nutritional risk than female old-old. Targeted nutritional intervention for male old-old emphasizing antioxidant nutritional intakes may be warranted.