The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55011

Joseph R. Sharkey, PhD, MPH, RD, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, 1103 University Drive, Suite 203, College Station, TX 77840, (979) 458-4268, jrsharkey@srph.tamushsc.edu

Abstract Text Objectives: In a randomly recruited sample of 279 homebound women (aged 61-98 years, 49% Black, 70% income <$750/month, and 58% live alone), food insufficiency, dietary intake, and health-related factors were assessed during a home visit and two telephone-administered dietary recalls. Methods: Analyses were performed using nonparametric test for trend and logistic regression models. Dependent variables were: 1) levels of food insufficiency derived from a summary scale and 2) lowest quartile of dietary intake in energy and ten key nutrients. Results: Although these women received home-delivered meals (33.5±27.9 months prior to assessment), almost 42% reported food insufficiency (35% moderate and 7% severe levels). Increased severity was associated with being 60-74y, black, reporting ³6 depressive symptoms, ³3 diseases, and decreased median energy and nutrient intake. After controlling for covariates and other influential variables, severe food insufficiency increased the odds for depression (OR 6.5), increased burden ³3 diseases (OR 4.7), and lowest quartile of intake ³4 nutrients (OR 3.2). Conclusions: These results suggest that home-delivered meals presently are not enough to prevent food insufficiency. Furthermore, increased severity of food insufficiency was associated with dietary and health-related outcomes, with may put these women at increased risk for functional decline and loss of independence. Prospective research is now needed to examine the interrelationships between the determinants of food insufficiency, dietary intake, health-related outcomes, and physical function among the growing homebound older population.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe the levels of severity of food insufficiency.
• To explain the relationship between food insufficiency and dietary intake in homebound older women.
• To explain how food insufficiency is associated with health-related outcomes in homebound older women.

Keywords: Aging, Dietary Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.