Nutrition and Isolation in a Rural US Population over 80 Years Old: A Descriptive Analysis of a Vulnerable Population

Abstract

Factors allowing rural, community-dwelling 80+ year-olds to thrive remain unexplored. Isolation can impact this vulnerable population. In this study, patients were prospectively surveyed for age, gender, cohabitation (self, spouse, family) and location (suburban, rural, and isolated). Mini-nutritional assessment short form (MNA-SF) and BMI were obtained. A p < 0.05 represented statistical significance. Patients (n = 167) were mostly female (120; 71.9%) with an average overweight BMI (26.5) and low-normal MNA-SF scores (11.8). Most live alone (49.7%), followed by spousal (31.7%) and family (18.6%) cohabitation. Over 80% are rural (71) or rural-isolated (67), and of these, 83% had normal nutrition. Self-habitation correlated with lower MNA-SF scores (p = 0.02). Normal BMIs correlated with family cohabitation (OR = 0.90 [CI: 0.82-0.99]) and nourished MNA-SF scores with spousal cohabitation (OR = 1.69; CI: 1.15-2.47) rather than living alone. Self-habitation increases vulnerability to obesity and malnutrition. Interventions should aim to maintain independence while improving the effects of habitation on nutrition.

Keywords:

• Malnutrition
• geriatrics
• rural
• community-dwelling
• isolation

SUBJECT CLASSIFICATION CODES:

• Marital or partnership status
• nutritional status
• older adults
• rural
• community

Acknowledgements

Michelle Peters, MAT for her work with formatting and image development.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.