The AMEL study, a cross sectional population-based survey on aging and malnutrition in 1200 elderly Lebanese living in rural settings: protocol and sample characteristics

Abstract

BackgroundLebanon is faced with a particular challenge because of large socioeconomic inequality and accelerated demographic transition. Rural residents seem more vulnerable because of limited access to transport, health and social services. No information is available regarding health, nutrition and living conditions of this specific population. The purpose of the AMEL (Aging and Malnutrition in Elderly Lebanese) study is to assess the nutritional status of community dwelling elderly people, aged 65 years and above, living in a rural settings in Lebanon, in line of socioeconomic factors, health and living conditions. The present paper will describe the gender specific characteristics of the study population.MethodsAMEL is a cross-sectional population based study conducted between April 2011 and April 2012 including 1200 elderly individuals living in the 24 rural Caza (districts) of Lebanon. People aged greater than or equal to 65 y were randomly selected through multistage cluster sampling. Subjects were interviewed at their homes by trained interviewers. The questionnaire included the following measures: socio-demographic factors, nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment, MNA), health related characteristics, functional ability, cognitive status, mood and social network.ResultsThe sample included 591 men (49.3%) and 609 women (50.8%). Mean age was 75.32 years and similar between genders. Malnutrition (MNA < 17) and risk of malnutrition (MNA between 17 and 23.5) were present in 8.0% (95%CI 4.9%-11.1%) and 29.1% (95%CI 24.0%-34.2%) respectively of the participants, and more frequent in women (9.1% and 35.3% respectively). Regarding socio-demographic status, among women the level of illiteracy and poor income was significantly higher than in men. Moreover, chronic diseases, poor self perceived health, frailty, functional disability, depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment were particularly high and significantly more frequent in women than in men.ConclusionThe present study provides unique information about nutritional status, health and living conditions of community dwelling rural residents of Lebanon. These findings may alert policy makers to plan appropriate intervention in order to improve the quality of life and increase successful aging.

The health status of the elderly population of Iran in 2012

“…In our study, about 86% of the elderly were independent in their ADL, which is similar to the result of study conducted in Netherlands (Gobbens & van Assen, 2014) where 85% of older adults were able to perform activities of daily living without help. However, according to studies in rural area in Colombia, 60.7% were independent (Curcio, Henao, & Gomez, 2014) and in Lebanon (Boulos et al, 2013) the corresponding value was 76%. In general, disability range for ADL was from 11% to 44% and for IADL from 7% to 28% (Gobbens & van Assen, 2014).…”

“…In fact, frequent studies investigate higher dependency among women than men (Boulos et al, 2013;Curcio, Gomez, & Reyes-Ortiz, 2009). physical and sports activities improve the quality of life and independence of elderly for doing daily activities on one hand, and promote happiness, physical and mental health, good appetite, tendency to work, peace and proper sleep on the other hand (Spirduso & Cronin, 2001).…”

“…This questionnaire was first designed by Guigoz et al which is the best questionnaire for measuring the nutritional status of the elderly (Boulos, Salameh, & Barberger-Gateau, 2013;Kuzuya et al, 2005). The translated version in Iran has a high validity and reliability (Amirkalali et al, 2010).…”

Factores asociados a la desnutrición o al riesgo de desnutrición en adultos mayores de San Juan de Pasto, Colombia: Un estudio transversal

“…La artritis, una enfermedad común e incapacitante, fue la segunda más frecuente en el presente estudio con un 36 nutricional, puede desencadenar consecuencias a nivel de la capacidad funcional en el adulto mayor 37 . En este sentido, varios autores refieren que el riesgo de desnutrición conlleva a una mayor dependencia en las actividades de la vida diaria en población senil 38 . Estos hallazgos concuerdan con lo encontrado en el presente estudio, presentándose mayor dependencia funcional en aquellos adultos mayores con riesgo de desnutrición.…”

Relationship of socio-economic status with nutritional status among the elderly in a rural community of Bangladesh

“…The relationship between marital status and nutritional status was not confirmed by the results reported by Boulos et al in Lebanon [27] and Saikia and Mahanta in Guwahati, Assam [28], but it was inconsistent with the results by Aliabadi et al [24].…”