Geriatrics · 2 authors, 2 centres
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This cross-sectional study assessed nutritional status using the MNA-SF among 53 single older adults living alone in a semi-mountainous rural region of Kochi Prefecture, Japan. The mean MNA-SF score was 12.1 ± 1.5, with 71.7% classified as having normal nutritional status, and social and psychological factors were identified as being associated with malnutrition risk.
This cross-sectional study surveyed 53 single older adults living alone in a semi-mountainous rural region of Kochi Prefecture, Japan, to clarify their nutritional status and associated factors using the MNA-SF and binomial logistic regression analysis. The mean MNA-SF score was 12.1 ± 1.5, and 71.7% of participants had normal nutritional status. Participation in local residents' association gatherings (OR: 7.42, 95% CI: 1.17–47.01) and risk of depression/anxiety (OR: 12.77, 95% CI: 1.99–81.94) were associated with an increased risk of malnutrition, whereas social interaction with friends (OR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02–0.76) was associated with a decreased risk. Limitations include a small sample size, recruitment via the Social Welfare Council and community events (potentially biasing toward healthier participants), reliance on self-reported BMI data, and generalizability restricted to semi-mountainous rural regions with distinct regional characteristics. The authors recommend that community health workers share health information and promote social events to support healthy lifestyles among older residents living alone.
