Correlation between Nutritional Status, Cognitive Function and Falling of Urban Elderly Population in Southwest China

• Published in: Advance Journal of Food Science and Technology 2016-12, Vol.12 (10), p.544-549
• Main Authors: Song, Jixiang, Luo, Jiong, Sun, Xun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2042-4876; 2042-4868; 2042-4876
• DOI: 10.19026/ajfst.12.3301

Purpose: Currently, the injury and fatality rate associated with falling has gradually caused the attention of the scientists all over the world. However, the study on the risk factors causing the falling of elderly in southwest China is few. Therefore, this study aimed to cover this shortage to provide references for clinical care. Methods: epidemiological study was conducted on 823 elderly residents in Chongqing. Structured questionnaire was adopted to know about the basic information, living status, tumbling history and disease history of the subjects and some assessment tools such as International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Simple Nutrition Assessment Questionnaire and Cognitive Function Questionnaire were also applied for study. Results: 1) in the last year, 15.7% of the over 65- year-old elderly were falling in southwest China, which was obviously higher than that in western countries. 2) In terms of risk factors causing falling of the elderly, the top five risk factors were malnutrition, leg pain, drinking alcohol, poor eyesight and poor health status, the risk of falling of the elderly with such factors were 3.513, 3.266, 2.974, 1.912 and 1.905 times the risk of falling of those without such factors respectively. Conclusions: In the last year, there was a high proportion of the elderly in Southwest China who falling, mainly falling outdoors. The elderly with malnutrition, lower limbs pain, habit of drinking, poor eyesight and self-reported bad health status were at higher risk of falling.