PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S A Nitzke

Publications and source records attributed to S A Nitzke.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Risk indicators for malnutrition are associated inversely with quality of life for participants in meal programs for older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nature and strength of associations between quality of life and factors commonly linked with malnutrition in participants in a meal program for the elderly. DESIGN: A questionnaire that assessed quality of life, nutritional risk, quality of health, depression, social satisfaction, functional status, food security, and food enjoyment was administered. SUBJECTS/SETTING: All persons aged 60 years and older enrolled in the Title III-C meal program in Pepin County, Wisconsin, during a 1-month period were asked to participate. Of 180 eligible subjects, data were available for 155; 108 received meals at congregate sites and 47 received home-delivered meals. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the population. Independent-samples t tests and chi 2 analysis were used to test for differences between the congregate-meal group and home-delivered-meal group. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to determine the direction and magnitude of associations between scale variables and quality of life. RESULTS: Quality of life and quality of health were positively correlated (r = .83, P < .0001). Nutritional risk, food insecurity, decreased enjoyment of food, depression, and impaired functional status were all negatively associated with quality of life. This research offers evidence that there are measurable associations between nutritional factors and quality of life. APPLICATIONS: Our finding could be helpful to dietitians in justifying, planning, and evaluating nutrition programs and interventions. Quality of life in older adults may be further enhanced by programs that include social and psychological components in addition to elements oriented to reduce nutritional risk.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Self-reported versus measured weight and height in an older adult meal program population.

BACKGROUND: Self-reported weight and height are used to compute ponderal indices in studies where it is impractical to obtain objectively measured data. Little is known about the associations between self-reported and measured weight and height in older adults. METHODS: Participants in congregate and home-delivered meal programs in a rural Wisconsin county recorded their height and weight on a questionnaire as part of a study on nutritional risk and quality of life. Objective measurements of height and weight were made on the same day. Data for 131 subjects, ranging in age from 62-92 years, were analyzed to evaluate associations between self-reported and measured weights and heights. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients between self-reported and measured values suggested that self-reported weight was somewhat more valid than self-reported height in this population. However, self-reported weight was misreported by 10 pounds or more in 20% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: More data are needed to evaluate the utility of self-reported data for weight and height in groups of older people. Judging from this study, self-reported height and weight data, if used at all for older adults, should only be used as a continuous variable rather than for classifying subjects into relative weight categories.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Screening for risk of malnutrition in Wisconsin's elderly.

In older adults, nutritional status is related to chronic disease risk, ability to maintain independent lifestyles, and rate and duration of hospitalizations. Significant numbers of American elders are either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Data from a recent survey of 21,000 Wisconsin participants in home-delivered or congregate meals 60 years of age and older indicated that in this group, over one fourth were at high risk for malnutrition. The Nutrition Screening Initiative, a collaborative effort of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Dietetic Association, and the National Council on the Aging, has identified risk factors for malnutrition in the elderly and is promoting systematic nutrition risk screening and intervention within the health care system. Risk factors for malnutrition in older adults, screening techniques available to medical practices, and resources for intervention are described in this paper.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A stage-of-change classification system based on actions and beliefs regarding dietary fat and fiber.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to develop a stage-of-change classification system and to determine the degree to which various adult subgroups have adopted the behavioral changes necessary to achieve a low-fat and/or high-fiber diet as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. DESIGN: The study used a mail survey randomly sent to 7110 adults. SETTING: The survey was conducted in 11 states and the District of Columbia. SUBJECTS: The random sample included males and females over age 18. Of the eligible respondents, 3198 (51.5%) were included in this analysis, with 2004 and 2066 unambiguously classified into stages of change for fat and fiber, respectively. MEASURES: Stage of change was defined by an algorithm based on self-reported intent and behaviors to limit fat and/or increase fiber. RESULTS: 45% of the respondents were classified as being in action/maintenance for fat and 38% for fiber. Women, older adults, individuals with advanced education, persons with diet-related chronic disease, people with higher levels of relevant nutrition knowledge and attitudes, and persons who indicated that health concerns were a primary influence on their diet were more likely to be in action/maintenance than other respondents. CONCLUSIONS: The algorithm in this study presents a model that more closely reflects the proportions of the adult population that have achieved low-fat diets and classifies a greater proportion in the preparation stage than classification systems in previous studies.

Adult↗