Purpose As the number of older adults with dual sensory declines is increasing, they face a higher risk of malnutrition compared to those without these declines. Although social determinants of health can influence malnutrition, there has been limited research on this population. This study aimed to explore the association between malnutrition risk and social determinants of health among older adults with dual sensory declines.
Methods The study is a cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans. Binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between malnutrition risk and social determinants of health. These determinants include structural determinants, social capital, and intermediary determinants among older adults with dual sensory declines.
Results 1,771 with dual sensory declines were included in the analysis. Among the structural determinants, women (odds ratio [OR]=1.75, 95% confidential interval [CI] 1.19~2.57) and national basic livelihood security system recipients (OR=1.87, 95% CI 1.13~3.07) were significantly associated with malnutrition risk. In social capital, social non-participation (OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.03~1.73) and social network size (OR=0.95, 95% CI 0.92~0.98), Among intermediary determinants, living dissatisfaction (OR=1.61, 95% CI 1.16~2.23), environmental satisfaction (OR=0.95, 95% CI 0.92~0.99), household debt (OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.02~2.49) and comorbidity (OR=3.85, 95% CI 2.98~4.97) were significantly related to malnutrition risk.
Conclusion These findings highlight the critical need to address key social determinants of health to enhance nutritional outcomes for older adults with dual sensory declines.
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Purpose This study verified that the dual sensory impairment (DSI) in the elderly is associated with cognitive impairment (CI) and confirmed how change in cognitive function varies depending on the social support (SS).
Methods For a study sample of Korean older people, data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) from the 7th (2018) to the 8th (2020), were included in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Among people who responded in both 2018 and 2020, a total of 2,069 people of those who are 65 years of age or older, and have living children and normal cognitive function, were analyzed. X2 -test, t-test and logistic regression analyses were utilized.
Results First, the number of elderly with visual impairment (VI), hearing impairment, and DSI increased on 8th data compared with 7th data. In addition, 22.9% of the 2,069 people showed a decrease in cognitive function. Second, compared to the elderly with normal sensory function, the cognitive function of the elderly with only VI was found to be more degraded, and the cognitive function of the elderly with DSI was found to be much more degraded. In addition, among SS, only participation in social gatherings was found to show significant change in cognitive function of the elderly with DSI. Third, the interaction effect of participating in social gatherings was not significant in the CI of the elderly with DSI.
Conclusion VI and DSI effected cognitive function, but participation in social gatherings such as SS has not significant interaction effect on CI of the elderly with DSI.