PREDICTORS OF DIETARY-INTAKE IN A FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT ELDERLY POPULATION IN THE COMMUNITY

Objectives. The aim of this study was to describe dietary intake and i dentify predictors of energy and protein intake in a group of high-ris k elderly people. Methods. All elderly persons receiving publicly fina nced home care services in the area of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, wer e eligible. Subjects (n = 145) 60 to 94 years of age from three home c are programs were interviewed to measure sociodemographic, health, and food-related behavior variables. Three nonconsecutive 24-hour recalls were used to describe usual dietary intake. Independent predictors of energy and protein intake were derived from multiple regression analy ses. Results. Very low mean energy intakes were observed in this funct ionally dependent population. More than 50% of the study subjects did not meet the recommended levels of daily protein intake (0.8 g/kg body weight). Significant independent determinants of intake were burden o f disease, stress, poor appetite, and vision. Conclusions. Results sug gest that community-living elderly people with loss of autonomy may ha ve more nutritional problems than healthy elderly individuals. Surveil lance of predictors of dietary intake may enable early detection and p revention of nutritional deficits.