J Nutr Health.  2020 Feb;53(1):68-82. 10.4163/jnh.2020.53.1.68.

Evaluation of the dietary quality and nutritional status of elderly people using the Nutrition Quotient for Elderly (NQ-E) in Seoul

• Ham SW
• Kim KH

• KMID: 2471123
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2020.53.1.68

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study evaluated the dietary quality and nutritional status of elderly people using the Nutrition Quotient for Elderly (NQ-E).
METHODS
The participants were 204 elderly people over 65 years of age (38 men and, 166 women) in Seoul. The dietary information was analyzed using a questionnaire of NQ-E, which consisted of 19 checklist items, and 24-recall test data. The NQ-E scores and its four factors, including "˜balance', "˜moderation', "˜diversity', and "˜dietary behavior' factors, were calculated according to general characteristics of the subjects. The subjects were divided into the "˜monitoring needed group' (62 > NQ-E score) and the "˜good group' (62 ≤ NQ-E score) according to their NQ-E score.
RESULTS
The mean NQ-E score of the total subjects was 61.9, which was within the medium-high grade. The scores of balance, moderation, and dietary behavior factors were within the medium-high grade, while the score of the diversity factor was within the medium-low grade. The NQ-E score was 54.8 in the monitoring needed group and 69.3 in the good group. For the score of the diversity factor, the elderly living alone had a significantly lower score than the score for the elderly living with a spouse. The female subjects showed significantly higher scores of moderation and dietary behavior factors than did the male subjects. The daily intakes of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin C and calcium in the monitoring needed group were significantly lower than those in the good group. The nutrient adequacy ratios (NAR) of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin C and calcium in the monitoring needed group were significantly lower compared to the scores of the good group. The indexes of nutritional quality (INQ) of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin C, calcium and potassium were less than 1 for all the subjects. The monitoring needed group had a significantly lower consumption of total foods, vegetables and mushrooms than the good group. As a result, the nutritional status of the monitoring needed group was significantly lower than that of the good group.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study show that NQ-E would be a useful tool for assessing the dietary quality of the elderly. In conclusion, a focused-nutrition education program and a useful guideline are needed for promoting the health and nutritional status in elderly people.

Keyword

elderly people; nutritional status; Nutrition Quotient for Elderly (NQ-E)

MeSH Terms

Agaricales
Aged*
Ascorbic Acid
Calcium
Checklist
Education
Female
Humans
Male
Nutritional Status*
Nutritive Value
Potassium
Riboflavin
Seoul*
Spouses
Vegetables
Vitamin A
Ascorbic Acid
Calcium
Potassium
Riboflavin
Vitamin A

Reference

References

1. Statistics Korea. 2019 Statistics of elderly in Korea; Population projections and summary indicators 1960∼2067 [Internet]. Seoul: Statistics Korea;2019. [cited 2019 Nov 13]. Available from:. http://kosis.kr/eng.

2. Chung JY, Lee MY, Kim MJ. A study on the prevalence of chronic diseases, health-related habits and nutrients intakes according to the quality of life in Korean adults. Korean J Community Nutr. 2010; 15(4):445–459.

3. Lee MS. Health-related factors influencing the quality of life of rural elderly subjects-activities of daily living, cognitive functions, prevalence of chronic diseases and nutritional assessment. Korean J Community Nutr. 2012; 17(6):772–781.

4. Bernstein M, Munoz N. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: food and nutrition for older adults: promoting health and wellness. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012; 112(8):1255–1277.

5. Lee HS. The factors influencing health-related quality of life in the elderly-Focused on the general characteristics, health habits, mental health, chronic diseases, and nutrient intake status: data from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V), 2010∼2012. Korean J Community Nutr. 2014; 19(5):479–489.

6. Kim SH, Kang HK, Kim JH. Socioeconomic factors affecting the health and nutritional status of the aged. Korean J Nutr. 2000; 33(1):86–101.

7. Kim HR. A study on the association of diet quality and risk of mortality and major chronic diseases from nationally representative longitudinal data. Health Soc Welf Rev. 2013; 33(3):5–30.

8. Kim MH, Chung HK. Relationship between sense of belonging, powerlessness and nutritional status of elderly people. J Korean Soc Food Cult. 2015; 30(1):118–128.

9. Rakıcıoğ lu N, Aksoy B, Tamer F, Yıldız EA, Samur G, Pekcan G, et al. Nutritional status and eating habits of the institutionalised elderly in Turkey: a follow-up study. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2016; 29(2):185–195.

10. Kim EM, Choi MK. An analysis of food consumption patterns of the elderly from the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey (KNHANES V-1). J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr. 2013; 42(5):818–827.

11. Park JE, An HJ, Jung SU, Lee Y, Kim CI, Jang YA. Characteristics of the dietary intake of Korean elderly by chewing ability using data from the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey 2007–2010. J Nutr Health. 2013; 46(3):285–295.

12. Han G, Yang E. Evaluation of dietary habit and nutritional intake of Korean elderly: data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013∼2015. J East Asian Soc Diet Life. 2018; 28(4):258–271.

13. Kim DM, Kim KH. Food and nutrient intake status of Korean elderly by perceived anxiety and depressive condition: data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013∼2015. J Nutr Health. 2019; 52(1):58–72.

14. Kim HY, Lee JS, Youn JC, Chang MJ. Food and nutrient intake status of Korean elderly by degree of cognitive function. J Nutr Health. 2016; 49(5):313–322.

15. Bae MA, Lee YW, Kim HS, You JS, Chang KJ. Comparison of the cognitive function and nutrient intakes of elderly women with dementia in a longterm care facility and a daytime care facility in Incheon. J Korean Soc Food Cult. 2019; 34(4):389–400.

16. Kwon JS, Lee SH, Lee KM, Lee Y. Study on energy and nutrient intake and food preference of the elderly in care facilities. Korean J Community Nutr. 2016; 21(2):200–217.

17. Yoon MO, Moon HK, Jeon JY, Sohn CM. Nutritional management by dietitian at elderly nursing homes in Gyeonggi-do. J Korean Diet Assoc. 2013; 19(4):400–415.

18. Omran ML, Morley JE. Assessment of protein energy malnutrition in older persons, part I: history, examination, body composition, and screening tools. Nutrition. 2000; 16(1):50–63.

19. Chung MJ, Kwak TK, Kim HY, Kang MH, Lee JS, Chung HR, et al. Development of NQ-E, nutrition quotient for Korean elderly: item selection and validation of factor structure. J Nutr Health. 2018; 51(1):87–102.

20. Lee HL. Nutrient intakes, dietary behavior and health status of the elderly living alone [master's thesis]. Seoul: Yonsei University;2017. p. 1–124.

21. Gham M, Um M, Kye S. Evaluation of dietary quality and nutritional status based on nutrition quotient and health functional food intake in the Korea elderly. J Korean Soc Food Cult. 2019; 34(4):474–485.

22. Kim YS. The study of the impact of the family type on the health promoting behavior and physical and mental health of elderly people. Health Soc Welf Rev. 2014; 34(3):400–429.

23. Shin SK, Kim HJ, Choi BY, Lee SS. A comparison of food frequency for the elderly regarding different family types – based on community health survey for 2008. Korean J Nutr. 2012; 45(3):264–273.

24. Kim YJ. Comparison of health habits, perceived stress, depression, and suicidal thinking by gender between elders living alone and those living with others. J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs. 2009; 16(3):333–344.

25. Oh JH, Jung BM. Comparison analysis of dietary behavior and nutrient intakes of the elderly according to their family status: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2016. Korean J Community Nutr. 2019; 24(4):309–320.

26. Shin JW, Park YK, Suh SR, Kim JE. Factors influencing quality of life in elderly diabetic patients of Korea: analysis from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2008. J Korean Gerontol Soc. 2011; 31(3):479–487.

27. So EJ, Joung H. Socioeconomic status is associated with the risk of inadequate energy intake among Korean elderly. J Nutr Health. 2015; 48(4):371–379.

28. Chobanian AV, Hill M. National heart, lung, and blood institute workshop on sodium and blood pressure: a critical review of current scientific evidence. Hypertension. 2000; 35(4):858–863.

29. Park YS, Son SM, Lim WJ, Kim SB, Chung YS. Comparison of dietary behaviors related to sodium intake by gender and age. Korean J Community Nutr. 2008; 13(1):1–12.

30. Lee YJ, Kwon MK, Baek HJ, Lee SS. Comparative analysis of food intake according to the family type of elderly women in Seoul area. J Nutr Health. 2015; 48(3):277–288.

31. Park HJ, Hwang YJ, Kim WY. Inflammatory cytokines and dietary factors in Korean elderly with chronic disease. Korean J Nutr. 2006; 39(4):372–380.

32. Kim MH, Chung HK. Relationship between sense of belonging, powerlessness and nutritional status of elderly people. J Korean Soc Food Cult. 2015; 30(1):118–128.