TY - JOUR
T1 - A parametric model of the role of nutritional services within the health care system, in relation to cardiovascular disease risk among older individuals
AU - Tyrovolas, Stefanos
AU - Tountas, Yannis
AU - Polychronopoulos, Evangelos
AU - Panagiotakos, Demosthenes
PY - 2012/2/23
Y1 - 2012/2/23
N2 - Background: The role of nutritional policy and services on the quality of life of older individuals has not been extensively studied. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between nutritional services within the public health care system and older people's health status. Methods: During 2010, information of various nutritional services provided in 9 Greek Islands and Cyprus Republic was retrieved through local health care authorities. With the exception of the Cyprus Republic, a large proportion of dieticians in the rest of the studied islands participated in this survey (n=88). The health status of the referent older population was retrieved from the Mediterranean islands' (MEDIS) study. Results: After various adjustment, islands that had nutritional services offered within the public health care systemhad lower likelihood of observing the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and obesity above the median rate of the referent population (odds ratio (95% CI), hypercholesterolemia, 0.11 (0.02, 0.55), diabetes, 0.03 (0.02, 0.26), and obesity, 0.10 (0.02, 0.50). Continuous and higher education status of dieticians and the completion of nutrition sessions seemalso to contribute to the reduction of theCVDrisk burdeninthese islanders. Conclusions: Active nutritional policy and enhancement of nutritional services within the public health care system may contribute to improved health and quality of life among older populations.
AB - Background: The role of nutritional policy and services on the quality of life of older individuals has not been extensively studied. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between nutritional services within the public health care system and older people's health status. Methods: During 2010, information of various nutritional services provided in 9 Greek Islands and Cyprus Republic was retrieved through local health care authorities. With the exception of the Cyprus Republic, a large proportion of dieticians in the rest of the studied islands participated in this survey (n=88). The health status of the referent older population was retrieved from the Mediterranean islands' (MEDIS) study. Results: After various adjustment, islands that had nutritional services offered within the public health care systemhad lower likelihood of observing the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and obesity above the median rate of the referent population (odds ratio (95% CI), hypercholesterolemia, 0.11 (0.02, 0.55), diabetes, 0.03 (0.02, 0.26), and obesity, 0.10 (0.02, 0.50). Continuous and higher education status of dieticians and the completion of nutrition sessions seemalso to contribute to the reduction of theCVDrisk burdeninthese islanders. Conclusions: Active nutritional policy and enhancement of nutritional services within the public health care system may contribute to improved health and quality of life among older populations.
KW - CVD
KW - Elders
KW - Health care system
KW - Nutrition policy
KW - Nutritional services
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859914017&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijcard.2010.12.053
DO - 10.1016/j.ijcard.2010.12.053
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 21211859
AN - SCOPUS:84859914017
SN - 0167-5273
VL - 155
SP - 110
EP - 114
JO - International Journal of Cardiology
JF - International Journal of Cardiology
IS - 1
ER -