Introduction: Diet quality is an essential factor in determining the adherence towards dietary guidelines. This study aims to assess the diet quality among community-dwelling older adults and identify the factors associated with the diet quality. Method: This is a cross-sectional study, conducted among 138 community-dwelling older adults living in PPR flats, Kuala Lumpur. Subjects were randomly recruited in this study. Diet Quality Index (DQI) was used to identify diet quality index of elderly. The Chi-square Test of Independence and Pearson’s correlation test were used to determine the association between tested covariates with DQI. Results: Majority of the respondents were report- ed with good diet quality (74.6%), whereas quarter of them (25.6%) had poor diet quality. Significant difference between the diet quality and the adherence on the food groups were observed for all food groups (p
Introduction: It is widely recognised that health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is
impaired in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Most previous
studies were conducted among the younger adult population and there is limited
information on the elderly population. This study aimed to determine the COPD
assessment test (CAT) score in the elderly with COPD. Methods: This was a crosssectional study involving 140 elderly patients who had been diagnosed with COPD
at two selected government institutions. Data on socio-demographic and health
status were collected by interviewing patients and reviewing their medical records.
The HRQOL was measured using CAT. The independence sample t-test and one-way
ANOVA were conducted to compare the CAT scores with socio-demographic and
health status. Results: The socio-demographic and health characteristics of the
patients were as follows: majority (54%) were aged 60-70 years, male (97%), Malay
(59%), married (75%), ex-smokers (72%), had attained primary education (48%),
had co-morbidities (54%), no history of hospitalisation or visits to the emergency
department due to COPD (57%), and were in moderate stage of airflow obstruction
(53%). The mean of CAT score was 21.87±6.85 and the majority of the patients were
classified as having worst symptoms of COPD (93%) as they had high CAT score
which was ≥ 10. Conclusion: Majority of the patients in this study had high scores
of CAT, which indicated poor HRQOL. Ex-smokers had higher scores compared
to non-smokers. More attention need to be given to these subgroups in order to
increase their quality of life.
Introduction: The objective of the study was to determine the factors associated with depressive symptoms (DS) among Malaysian Chinese elderly. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using interviewer-administered ques- tionnaire conducted in a peri-urban area in Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia among 112 free-living residents aged 60 years and above, mean age 71.4±7.01 (60 to 89) years. Dietary food intakes and DS were assessed by 24-hour di- etary recall and 15-items Chinese Geriatric Depression Scale (C-GDS-15), respectively. Anthropometric parameters were obtained using standard procedures. Results: The prevalence of DS among the respondents was 36.6%. Most respondents reported physically inactive (96.5%), abdominal obesity (61.6%) and on average high selenium (81.9± 54.44) and low calcium intake (309 ± 173.36). According to MLR model, folate (β=-0.206, p=0.007), magnesium (β=-0.209, p=0.007) and iron (β=-0.202, p=0.009) intake were significant predictors of GDS score only if they were analyzed separately in the MLR model. However, after adjustment for gender, and other dietary nutrient intake, there were only good money satisfaction (OR=2.48, p=0.001) and dietary intake of iron (OR=1.385, p=0.050) showed significant associations with lower risk reporting DS. Conclusions: Prevalence of DS could be restricted by achieving a good economic satisfaction for the living and adequate intake of dietary iron, which with good overall nutrient will reflect a good nutritional status and health being.
This article aimed to review the available anthropometry measurements used in the assessment of nutritional sta- tus among Cerebral Palsy (CP) children. Searched journals were from Medline, PubMed and Ovid published from 2015 to 2018. The search identified 443 articles, and eight studies met the criteria. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, recumbent length, knee height, tibia length, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), Bio- electrical impedance (BIA), Mid arm circumference (MUAC) subscapular skinfold (SFT), Triceps skinfold (TSF) and prediction equations. Body fat composition can be obtained by DXA, BIA, skinfold measurement, and also prediction equation. The predictive equation is the most reported method to determine nutritional status among CP. This review found that TSF and SFT are more accurate to determine body fat percentage when using together with the predictive equation. Besides, predictive equations using segmental length are reliable in estimating the height and can be used to evaluate the nutritional status using the specific CP growth chart.
Introduction: Depression and depressive symptom are common among the
elderly. This study aimed to determine the influence of multiple factors and their
correlations on the prevalence of depressive symptoms among elderly residents in
selected FELDA schemes in Johor state.
Methods: A total of 269 respondents were
recruited through systematic sampling. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to
obtain information on socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics using
pre-tested validated questionnaires; For functional status, the Lawton-IADL Scale
was used to assess independent living skills; the Short Physical Performance Battery
(SPPB) questionnaire was used to assess physical performance; cognitive function
was assessed by the Hodkinson Abbreviated Mental Test (HAMT); physical activity
level was determined using the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA);
and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale-15.
Results: Mean age of the respondents was 69.5±5.2 years. Prevalence of depressive
symptoms was determined as 3.7%. Almost half (47.6%) were unable to perform
one or more Lawton-IADL items, 30.9% had low physical performance, 15.6% had
abnormal cognitive function and only 30.6% were physically active. There were
significant correlations between the socio-demographic characteristics (age and
monthly income; r=-0.135 and rs
=-0.133 respectively; p