Afsaneh Koochek

Nutritional status, well-being and functional ability in frail elderly service flat residents

Objective: To investigate nutritional status and its relationship to cognition, well-being, functional ability and energy intake in frail elderly service flat residents.Design: Cross-sectional and prospective study.Setting: Two municipal service flat complexes.Subjects: A total of 80 residents (median age 85.5 (79–90) y) with regular home care assistance participated. A subgroup of 35 residents took part in a re-examination 1 y later.Methods: Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, Barthel Index and Health Index were used for the evaluation of nutritional, cognitive and ADL function and well-being, respectively.Results: In all, 30% of the frail and chronically ill service flat residents were assessed as malnourished and 59% were at risk of malnutrition. The malnourished residents had worse cognitive conditions (P<0.001) and well-being (P<0.05), lower functional ability (P<0.01) and they had a greater need for daily assistance (P<0.05) than the other residents. The median night fast period was 14.0 (12.5–15.0) h. Five subjects classified as malnourished at baseline had lost a median of −9.6 kg (range −11.0 to +7.3 kg) (P<0.05) in body weight at the 1-y follow-up, which contrasted significantly from the weight stability in residents classified as at risk for malnutrition or well-nourished.Conclusion: Out of 10 residents, nine were assessed to have impending nutritional problems that related to impaired well-being, cognition, and functional ability. Malnourished residents had a significant weight loss over one year. Studies are needed to determine whether weight loss and nutrition-related dysfunction in service flat residents are preventable or treatable.Sponsorship: Karolinska Institutet, Vårdal Foundation and the Swedish Medical Research Council.

Is migration to Sweden associated with increased prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease

Bakground The proportion of elderly immigrants in Sweden is increasing. This is an important issue considering that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a global health problem and that CVD is one of the main causes of morbidity among the elderly. The aim of this study is to analyze whether there is an association between migration status, that is being an elderly Iranian immigrant in Sweden, as compared with being an elderly Iranian in Iran, and the prevalence of risk factors for CVD. Design Population-based cross-sectional study with face-to-face interviews. Participants and setting A total of 176 Iranians in Stockholm and 300 Iranians in Tehran, aged 60-84 years. Methods The prevalence of general obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes was determined. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for outcomes. Results The age-adjusted risk of hypertension and smoking was higher in Iranian women and men in Sweden. OR for hypertension was 1.9 (95% CI: 1.1-3.2) for women and 3.1 (95% CI: 1.5-6.3) for men and OR for smoking was 6.9 (95% CI: 2.2-21.6) for women and 4.7 (95% CI: 2.0-11.0) for men. The higher risk for hypertension and smoking remained significant after accounting for age, socioeconomic status, and marital status. Abdominal obesity was found in nearly 80% of the women in both groups. Conclusion The findings show a strong association between migration status and the prevalence of hypertension and smoking. Major recommendation for public health is increased awareness of CVD risk factors among elderly immigrants.

Health-related quality of life and migration: A cross-sectional study on elderly Iranians in Sweden

BackgroundAlthough elderly Iranian immigrants in Sweden are the largest elderly group born outside Europe, little is known about their health-related quality of life (HRQL). The aim of this study was to examine the association between migration status and HRQL in a comparison of elderly Iranians in Iran, elderly Iranian immigrants in Sweden, and elderly Swedes in Sweden.MethodsThe Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was administered to a total of 625 men and women aged 60–84 years to collect HRQL information on elderly Iranians in Sweden (n = 176) and elderly Iranians in Iran (n = 298). A Swedish control group (n = 151) was also randomly selected from the general population. Multiple linear regression procedures were applied to analyze data while adjusting for age, which was categorized into 60–69, and 70–84 years, and education.ResultsIranian women in Sweden with shorter times of residence scored lower on vitality (β-coefficient = -7.9, 95% CI = -14.3 to -1.5) compared with other women in this study. The lower vitality dimension score remained nearly unchanged in the main model (β-coefficient = -7.3, 95% CI = -13.7 to -0.9). A longer period of residence in Sweden had a positive association with social functioning (β-coefficient = 14.1, 95% CI = 3.1–25.1) and role limitation due to emotional problems (β-coefficient = 18.3, 95% CI = 1.4–35.2) among elderly Iranian women. In general, the Swedish subsample scores higher on all dimensions of the SF-36 among women and in six out of eight among men in relation to the rest of the subsamples.ConclusionThe HRQL of elderly Iranians in Sweden was more like that of their countrymen in Iran than that of Swedes, who reported a better HRQL than Iranians in this study. However, length of time since migration to Sweden is not associated with poorer HRQL among elderly Iranians. The association varied, however, with sex. Elderly Iranian women showed an increase in two of eight dimensions of the SF-36 with additional years in Sweden, whereas, among elderly Iranian men, additional years in Sweden were not associated with HRQL.

Minimal effect on energy intake by additional evening meal for frail elderly service flat residents — A pilot study

Background: Nutritional problems are common in frail elderly individuals receiving municipal care.Objective: To evaluate if an additional evening meal could improve total daily food intake, nutritional status, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in frail elderly service flat (SF) residents.Design: Out of 122 residents in two SF complexes, 60 subjects agreed to participate, of which 49 subjects (median 84 (79–90) years, (25th–75th percentile)) completed the study. For six months 23 residents in one SF complex were served 530 kcal in addition to their regular meals, i.e. intervention group (I-group). Twenty-six residents in the other SF building were controls (C-group). Nutritional status, energy and nutrient intake, length of night time fast, cognitive function and HRQOL was assessed before and after the intervention.Results: At the start, the Mini Nutritional Assessment classified 27% as malnourished and 63% as at risk for malnutrition, with no difference between the groups. After six months the median body weight was unchanged in the I-group, +0.6 (−1.7 - +1.6) kg (p=0.72) and the C-group −0.6 (−2.0 - +0.5) kg (p=0.15). Weight change ranged from −13% to +15%. The evening meal improved the protein and carbohydrate intake (p< 0.01) but the energy intake increased by only 180 kcal/day (p=0.15). The night time fast decreased in the I-group from 15.0 (13.0–16.0) to 13.0 (12.0–14.0) hours (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference in cognitive function or HRQOL between the groups.Conclusion: Nine out of ten frail elderly SF residents had nutritional problems. Serving an additional evening meal increased the protein and carbohydrate intake, but the meal had no significant effect on energy intake, body weight or HRQOL. The variation in outcome within each study group was large.

Physical activity and body mass index in elderly Iranians in Sweden: a population-based study

Background/Objectives:To analyze whether elderly Iranians in Sweden have a higher mean body mass index (BMI) and are less physically active than elderly Swedes after adjustment for possible confounders.Subjects/Methods:A total of 402 men and women (167 Iranian-born and 235 Swedish-born) aged 60–84 years residing in Stockholm, Sweden, were included in this population-based survey. Iranian participants were weighed and their height was measured. BMI values from the Swedish participants were based on self-reported data adjusted for the known discrepancy between objectively measured and self-reported weight and height. The outcome variables, BMI and self-reported leisure-time physical activity, were analyzed by linear regression and unconditional logistic regression.Results:Overall, Iranian women had the highest mean BMI (29.2) of all subgroups. The model that included an interaction between sex and length of time in Sweden showed that there was no significant difference in BMI between Swedish men (reference) and Swedish women or Iranian men. In contrast, Iranian women had significantly higher BMI than the reference group after adjustment for age, education and marital status. The largest difference in BMI compared to the reference group was found among Iranian women who immigrated to Sweden in 1989 or later (β-coefficient=3.41, 95% CI=1.99–4.83). Iranians and Swedes had almost the same odds of ⩾ once-weekly leisure-time physical activity.Conclusions:Elderly Iranian immigrants and especially women who immigrated to Sweden in 1989 or later must be targeted in order to decrease their burden of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Nutritional Supplementation With Physical Activity Improves Muscle Composition in Mobility-Limited Older Adults, The VIVE2 Study: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background Nutritional supplementation and physical activity have been shown to positively influence muscle mass and strength in older adults. The efficacy of long-term nutritional supplementation in combination with physical activity in older adults remains unclear. Methods Mobility-limited (short physical performance battery [SPPB] ≤9) and vitamin D insufficient (serum 25(OH) D 9-24 ng/mL) older adults were recruited for this study. All subjects participated in a physical activity program. Subjects were randomized to consume a daily nutritional supplement (150 kcal, 20 g whey protein, 800 IU vitamin D, 119 mL beverage) or placebo (30 kcal, nonnutritive, 119 mL). In a prespecified secondary analysis, we examined total-body composition (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), thigh composition (computed tomography), and muscle strength, power, and quality before and after the 6-month intervention. Results One hundred and forty-nine subjects were randomized into the study [mean (standard deviation, SD) age 78.5 (5.4) years; 46.3% female; mean (SD) short physical performance battery 7.9 (1.2); mean (SD) vitamin D 18.7 (6.4) ng/mL]. After the intervention period both groups demonstrated improvements in muscle strength, body composition, and thigh composition. Nutritional supplementation lead to further losses of intermuscular fat (p = .049) and increased normal muscle density (p = .018). Conclusions Six months of physical activity resulted in improvements in body composition, subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, and strength measures. The addition of nutritional supplementation resulted in further declines in intermuscular fat and improved muscle density compared to placebo. These results suggest nutritional supplementation provides additional benefits to mobility-limited older adults undergoing exercise training. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01542892.

Dietary differences between elderly Iranians living in Sweden and Iran a cross-sectional comparative study

BackgroundDuring the last decades, global migration has increased and many immigrant groups have a higher prevalence than the native born population of several cardiovascular disease risk factors, including poor dietary habits. However, it is uncertain if dietary habits in immigrant populations reflect dietary habits in their country of origin or if the current diet is a consequence of the migration and possible change of dietary habits. The aim of this study was to examine possible dietary differences between elderly Iranians living in Stockholm, Sweden with elderly Iranians living in Tehran, Iran, taking into account sex, age, marital status, and education.MethodsDietary intakes were assessed by semi - quantitative food frequency questionnaire in a cross-sectional study of 121 Iranians living in Stockholm and 52 Iranians living in Tehran, aged 60-80. Differences in dietary habits between the two groups was analysed by bootstrapped regression analyses with 1000 replications.ResultsIranians living in Sweden had significantly higher intake of protein, total fat, fiber than Iranians living in Iran, but lower consumption of carbohydrates. The observed differences in intake of macronutrients were reflected in consumed amount of all food items, which were higher among Iranians living in Iran with the exception of bread and grain consumption which was lower.ConclusionsThere are general differences in dietary habits between Iranians living in Iran and Iranians living in Sweden. Parts of observed differences in dietary habits may reflect a favourable adoption process to the Swedish dietary habits after migration. Meanwhile other differences are point of concern in light of the high prevalence of overweight, among Iranians living in Sweden and can have unfavourable impact in particular in the context of cardiovascular health.

Evaluation of Nutrition Care Process documentation in electronic patient records: Need of improvement

The aim of this thesis was to explore dietetic notes in Swedish patient records regarding content, language and the meaning of standardization.Firstly, an audit instrument for dietetic notes in patient records, Diet-NCP-Audit, was elaborated and tested. The instrument, a 14-item scoring questionnaire based on the four steps of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP), proved to have high content validity and moderate to high inter- and intra-rater reliability. The instrument was then used in an evaluation of the content, language and structure of 147 Swedish dietetic notes. Although the nutrition intervention and some information about the evaluation were well documented, the overall result showed a need for improvement in several aspects of documentation, such as nutrition prescriptions, goals and the connection between problem-etiology-symptom.After this, 30 of the audited dietetic notes were also included in a critical linguistic study exploring how the patients and dietitians were referred to in the notes. The dietetic notes contained several linguistic devices that impersonalized and passivized both the patient and the dietitian. Thus, the grammar of the dietetic notes did not enhance or reflect the patient-centered care and the active patient-caregiver relationship that is emphasized in most health care guidelines today.Finally, a focus group study was performed. Swedish dietitians’ experiences of the standardized Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and its connected terminology (NCPT) were explored and analyzed from the perspective of Habermas’ system and lifeworld concepts. While recognizing many advantages with the NCP and NCPT, dietitians also expressed difficulties in combining the structured and standardized process and terminology with a flexible, patient-centered approach in nutrition care.In summary, I argue that strategies for the improvement of dietetic documentation are needed. I also suggest that the NCP and NCPT play an essential role in dietetic professionalization. At the same time, however, this standardization may entail the risk of a reductionist view and difficulties regarding how to balance the different ideals of health care. Thus, there is a need for discussions concerning how to use and develop the NCP and dietetic language in a way that ensures the best possible care for the patient.

Evaluation of a Nutrition Care Process-based audit instrument, the Diet-NCP-Audit, for documentation of dietetic care in medical records

Adequate documentation in medical records is important for high-quality health care. Documentation quality is widely studied within nursing, but studies are lacking within dietetic care. The aim of this study was to translate, elaborate and evaluate an audit instrument, based on the four-step Nutrition Care Process model, for documentation of dietetic care in medical records. The audit instrument includes 14 items focused on essential parts of dietetic care and the documentations clarity and structure. Each item is to be rated 0-1 or 0-2 points, with a maximum total instrument score of 26. A detailed manual was added to facilitate the interpretation and increase the reliability of the instrument. The instrument is based on a similar tool initiated 9 years ago in the United States, which in this study was translated to Swedish and further elaborated. The translated and further elaborated instrument was named Diet-NCP-Audit. Firstly, the content validity of the Diet-NCP-Audit instrument was tested by five experienced dietitians. They rated the relevance and clarity of the included items. After a first rating, minor improvements were made. After the second rating, the Content Validity Indexes were 1.0, and the Clarity Index was 0.98. Secondly, to test the reliability, four dietitians reviewed 20 systematically collected dietetic notes independently using the audit instrument. Before the review, a calibration process was performed. A comparison of the reviews was performed, which resulted in a moderate inter-rater agreement with Krippendorffs α = 0.65-0.67. Grouping the audit results in three levels: lower, medium or higher range, a Krippendorffs α of 0.74 was considered high reliability. Also, an intra-rater reliability test-retest with a 9 weeks interval, performed by one dietitian, showed strong agreement. To conclude, the evaluated audit instrument had high content validity and moderate to high reliability and can be used in auditing documentation of dietetic care.

The Vitality, Independence, and Vigor in the Elderly 2 Study (VIVE2): Design and methods

BACKGROUND Nutritional supplementation may potentiate the increase in skeletal muscle protein synthesis following exercise in healthy older individuals. Whether exercise and nutrition act synergistically to produce sustained changes in physical functioning and body composition has not been well studied, particularly in mobility-limited older adults. METHODS The VIVE2 study was a multi-center, randomized controlled trial, conducted in the United States and Sweden. This study was designed to compare the effects of a 6-month intervention with a once daily, experimental, 4 fl.oz. liquid nutritional supplement providing 150 kcal, whey protein (20 g), and vitamin D (800 IU) (Nestlé Health Science, Vevey, Switzerland), to a low calorie placebo drink (30 kcal, non-nutritive; identical format) when combined with group-based exercise in 150 community-dwelling, mobility-limited older adults. All participants participated in a structured exercise program (3 sessions/week for 6 months), which included aerobic, strength, flexibility, and balance exercises. RESULTS The primary outcome was 6-month change in 400 m walk performance (m/s) between supplement and placebo groups. Secondary outcomes included 6 month change in: body composition, muscle cross-sectional area, leg strength, grip strength, stair climb time, quality of life, physical performance, mood/depressive symptoms and nutritional status. These outcomes were selected based on their applicability to the health and well-being of older adults. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study will further define the role of nutritional supplementation on physical functioning and restoration of skeletal muscle mass in older adults. Additionally, these results will help refine the current physical activity and nutritional recommendations for mobility-limited older adults.