Korean J Community Nutr.  2003 Oct;8(5):726-735.

Anthropometric and Biochemical Indicators and Related Factors for the Community Dwelling Elderly Living Alone

• Park JK
• Son SM

Abstract

In this study, anthropometric and biochemical indicators and related factors for community dwelling elderly living alone (ELA). as well as for elderly not living alone (ENLA) were explored. The subjects were 140 elderly females (70 living alone, 70 not living alone) residing in Bucheon. Anthropometric measurements revealed significant differences between the two groups (ELA/ENLA) for height, weight, BMI, triceps skinfold thickness, suprailiac skinfold thickness, subscapular skinfold thickness, and body fat percentage. The ELA showed significantly lower data for most of the anthropometric indices, except PIBW. Biochemical indicators of iron status (hemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin saturation) were significantly lower for the ELA, whereas the total serum cholesterol, LDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, for the ELA were significantly higher. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (240 mg%) was 30%. The latter three are not in accordance with general malnutrition among the ELA. The hemoglobin of the ELA was positively correlated with energy, fat, iron and cholesterol intake, but negatively correlated with height. The serum cholesterol of the ELA was positively associated with most of their nutrient intake.

Keyword

the elderly living alone; the elderly not living alone; anthropometric indicators; biochemical indicators

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Aged*
Cholesterol
Female
Gyeonggi-do
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia
Iron
Malnutrition
Prevalence
Skinfold Thickness
Transferrin
Cholesterol
Iron
Transferrin