scholarly journals Predictors of malnutrition among older adults aged above 65 years in eastern Ethiopia: neglected public health concern

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdu Oumer Abdu ◽  
Imam Dagne Yimamu ◽  
Ahmed Ale Kahsay

Abstract Background A nutritional problem, especially under nutrition is one of the common public health problems in older population causing greater mortality and economic loss in developing countries. However, evidences on the risk factors for increased nutritional risk among older population is not well stated in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and predictors of malnutrition among older adults (> = 65 years) in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based analytical survey was conducted among randomly selected 592 older people aged above 65 years of age in Harari region. Subjects were selected using multistage sampling pretested Full Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool was used to classify as malnourished (MNA score < 17), at risk of malnutrition (MNA score of 17 to 23.5) and otherwise normal. Validated geriatric depression scale short form (15 items) was employed to screen for depression. Data were presented using statistical tables, frequency, percentage, and graphs. Ordinary logistic regression was employed to identify predictors of malnutrition and plum method was used to generate odds ratio. The level of statistical significance was declared at P-value less than 5%. Chi-square test, crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence was reported. Results A total of 592 respondents (93.4%) were interviewed. About 306 (51.7%) and 93 (15.7%) were found to be at risk of malnutrition and malnourished respectively. The predicted log odds of being malnourished was higher among those from rural residents (AOR = 2.08: 1.25–3.45), not on working (AOR = 1.31: 95% CI: 0.87–1.95) and did not have health insurance (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI; 0.97–2.58). Those with chronic pain (AOR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.15–2.51), previous hospitalization (AOR = 1.59: 95% CI: 1.27–2.38) and not able to cover their personal expense (AOR =1.61: 95% CI: 1.12–2.30) were predictors of malnutrition. The relationship between previous hospitalizations with malnutrition among older adults people is moderated significantly by the presence of chronic pain (β = 0.113, p = 0.015). Conclusions Malnutrition among old age is a public health concern that needs attention. Economical vulnerability, residence, depression, presence of chronic disease, and hospitalization were important risk factors for malnutrition among old age.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdu Oumer Abdu ◽  
Imam Dagne ◽  
Ahmed Ali

Abstract Background A nutritional problem, especially under nutrition is one of the common public health problems in elderly causing greater mortality and economic loss in developing countries. However, evidences on the risk factors for increased nutritional risk among elderly is not well stated in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and predictors of malnutrition among elderly (> = 65 years) in Eastern Ethiopia.Methods Community based survey was conducted among randomly selected 592 elderly age above 65 years of age in Harari region selected using multistage sampling Pretested full Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool was used to classify as malnourished (MNA score <17), at risk of malnutrition (MNA score of 17 to 23.5) and otherwise normal. Validated geriatric depression scale short form (15 items) was employed to screen for depression. Statistical tables, frequency, percentage and graphs. Ordinary logistic regression was employed to identify predictors of malnutrition and plum method was used to generate odds ratio. Level of statistical significance was declared at P value less than 5%. Chi-square test, crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence was reported. Results A total of 592 respondents with response rate of 93.4% were interviewed. A total of 306 (51.7%) and 93 (15.7%) were found to be at risk of malnutrition and malnourished respectively. The predicted log odds of being malnourished was higher among those from rural residents (AOR = 2.08: 1.25-3.45), not on working (AOR = 1.31: 95% CI: 0.87-1.95) and did not have health insurance (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI; 0.97-2.58). Those with chronic pain (AOR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.15-2.51), previous hospitalization (AOR = 1.59: 95% CI: 1.27-2.38) and not able to cover their personal expense (AOR =1.61: 95% CI: 1.12-2.30) were predictors of malnutrition. The relationship between previous hospitalizations with malnutrition among elderly is moderated significantly by the presence of chronic pain (β = 0.113, p = 0.015).Conclusions Malnutrition among old age is public health concern that needs attention. Economic vulnerability, residence, depression, presence of chronic disease and hospitalization were an important risk factors for malnutrition among old age.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Djordjevic ◽  
Subir Roy Chowdhury ◽  
Wanda M. Snow ◽  
Claudia Perez ◽  
Chris Cadonic ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major public health concern worldwide. Advanced age and female sex are two of the most prominent risk factors for AD. AD is characterized by progressive neuronal loss, especially in the cortex and hippocampus, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been proposed to be an early event in the onset and progression of the disease. Our results showed early perturbations in mitochondrial function in 3xTg mouse brain, with the cortex being more susceptible to mitochondrial changes than the hippocampus. In the cortex of 3xTg females, decreased coupled and uncoupled respiration were evident early (at 2 months of age), while in males it appeared later at 6 months of age. We observed increased coupled respiration in the hippocampus of 2-month-old 3xTg females, but no changes were detected later in life. Changes in mitochondrial dynamics were indicated by decreased mitofusin (Mfn2) and increased dynamin related protein 1 (Drp1) (only in females) in the hippocampus and cortex of 3xTg mice. Our findings highlight the importance of controlling and accounting for sex, brain region, and age in studies examining brain bioenergetics using this common AD model in order to more accurately evaluate potential therapies and improve the sex-specific translatability of preclinical findings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2333794X1989130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adekunle Sanyaolu ◽  
Chuku Okorie ◽  
Xiaohua Qi ◽  
Jennifer Locke ◽  
Saif Rehman

Childhood and adolescent obesity have reached epidemic levels in the United States. Currently, about 17% of US children are presenting with obesity. Obesity can affect all aspects of the children including their psychological as well as cardiovascular health; also, their overall physical health is affected. The association between obesity and other conditions makes it a public health concern for children and adolescents. Due to the increase in the prevalence of obesity among children, a variety of research studies have been conducted to discover what associations and risk factors increase the probability that a child will present with obesity. While a complete picture of all the risk factors associated with obesity remains elusive, the combination of diet, exercise, physiological factors, and psychological factors is important in the control and prevention of childhood obesity; thus, all researchers agree that prevention is the key strategy for controlling the current problem. Primary prevention methods are aimed at educating the child and family, as well as encouraging appropriate diet and exercise from a young age through adulthood, while secondary prevention is targeted at lessening the effect of childhood obesity to prevent the child from continuing the unhealthy habits and obesity into adulthood. A combination of both primary and secondary prevention is necessary to achieve the best results. This review article highlights the health implications including physiological and psychological factors comorbidities, as well as the epidemiology, risk factors, prevention, and control of childhood and adolescent obesity in the United States.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4339
Author(s):  
Erika Aparecida Silveira ◽  
Rômulo Roosevelt da Silva Filho ◽  
Maria Claudia Bernardes Spexoto ◽  
Fahimeh Haghighatdoost ◽  
Nizal Sarrafzadegan ◽  
...  

Obesity is globally a serious public health concern and is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and various types of cancers. It is important to evaluate various types of obesity, such as visceral and sarcopenic obesity. The evidence on the associated risk of CVD, cancer and sarcopenic obesity, including pathophysiological aspects, occurrence, clinical implications and survival, needs further investigation. Sarcopenic obesity is a relatively new term. It is a clinical condition that primarily affects older adults. There are several endocrine-hormonal, metabolic and lifestyle aspects involved in the occurrence of sarcopenic obesity that affect pathophysiological aspects that, in turn, contribute to CVD and neoplasms. However, there is no available evidence on the role of sarcopenic obesity in the occurrence of CVD and cancer and its pathophysiological interplay. Therefore, this review aims to describe the pathophysiological aspects and the clinical and epidemiological evidence on the role of sarcopenic obesity related to the occurrence and mortality risk of various types of cancer and cardiovascular disease. This literature review highlights the need for further research on sarcopenic obesity to demonstrate the interrelation of these various associations.


Author(s):  
Haniel Fernandes

Chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs) have been a major public health concern worldwide, especially diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, in addition to obesity, which is even more worrying when the subject involves the covid-19 pandemic, because such incidences correlate with the need for intensive care units, including the possibility of death of the patient. Therefore, for countries with the highest numbers of critical cases, it is important to assess the incidence of these diseases to guide the public that most needs guidance on public policies for social isolation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 2105-2106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Smith ◽  
Ana Hategan ◽  
James A. Bourgeois

To the Editor: The gaming industry is growing rapidly, as is the proportion of older adults aged 65 years or older who participate in gambling (Tse et al., 2012). With casinos tailoring their venues and providing incentives to attract older adults, and with the increasing popularity of “pleasure trips” to casinos organized by retirement homes, plus active promotion of government-operated lotteries in many countries, this trend is likely to continue. Gambling disorder (GD) or “pathological” or “problem” gambling presents a public health concern in the geriatric population. However, ascertainment of its prevalence and diagnostic accuracy have proven challenging. This is largely due to the absence of diagnostic criteria specific to the geriatric age and rating scales validated for use in this population.


Author(s):  
Zahra Heydarifard ◽  
Jila Yavarian ◽  
Somayeh Shatizadeh Malekshahi ◽  
Sevrin Zadheidar ◽  
Talat Mokhtari-Azad ◽  
...  

Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a newly emerged virus which belongs to Coronaviridae family within the betacoronavirus genus. Previous reports demonstrated that other betacoronaviruses were responsible for adverse outcomes during pregnancy in human. Due to inadequate data, the consequences of a SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is still a public health concern in the second year of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in human population. Herein, we aimed to review the probable risk of intrauterine vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection to the fetus, its adverse outcomes during pregnancy for both mother and the fetus and maternal risk factors which affect the severity Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19.


Dose-Response ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 155932581769115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Golden ◽  
Stewart Holm

Numerous contaminants in indoor air and their potential to cause or exacerbate asthma continue to be a subject of public health concern. Many agents are causally associated with or can exacerbate asthma, particularly in children. For formaldehyde, an established respiratory irritant based on numerous studies, the evidence for an association with asthma is still considered only limited or suggestive. However, there is no evidence that indicates increased sensitivity to sensory irritation to formaldehyde in people often regarded as susceptible such as asthmatics. Acrolein, but not formaldehyde, was significantly associated with asthma in a large cohort of children. This prompted an evaluation of this highly irritating chemical that had never previously been considered in the context of the indoor air/childhood asthma issue. Because acrolein is more potent than formaldehyde as a respiratory irritant and ubiquitous in indoor air, it is plausible that previous studies on potential risk factors and childhood asthma may be confounded by formaldehyde acting as an unrecognized proxy for acrolein.


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