Korean J Fam Pract.  2023 Mar;13(1):15-22. 10.21215/kjfp.2023.13.1.15.

Relationship between Anemia with Frailty and Nutritional Intake in Persons Age 65 and Older: The 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Jeong H
• Lee C
• Han SY
• Ko YJ
• Kim KJ

• KMID: 2540641
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2023.13.1.15

Abstract

Background
Anemia is common in older people. Frailty scores can be used to predict the risk of anemia in addition to aging. This study aimed to investigate the association between anemia with frailty and nutritional insufficiency in older adults in Korea.
Methods
The 2016–2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey data that included 1,715 Korean adults older than 65 years were used in this study. Frailty scores were defined based on the Fried phenotype. The correlation between anemia and related factors, adjusting for other possible confounders, was verified using multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results
Of the participants, 14.9% had anemia. Participants who were frail had a 1.92 increased odds of anemia (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17– 3.16), higher than that of robust participants after adjusting for covariates. Furthermore, protein insufficiency was associated with 1.67 increased odds of anemia (95% CI, 1.18–2.35).
Conclusion
Protein intake and anemia management are essential in older people; however, additional studies are necessary to reduce the risk of frailty and improve patients’ quality of life and survival rate.

Keyword

Anemia; Frailty; Protein Intake Insufficiency; Nutrition