engleski

Implementation of geroprophylactic measures in the prevention of obesity in early old age and malnutrition in deep old age

Obesity and malnutrition in the elderly (age 65+) are two extremes of the gerontologic public health problem of inappropriate nutritional status. Obesity (ICD 10: E66) with established unfavourable implications for health and functional ability is a significant contributing factor for the development of many chronic non- communicable diseases, in particular of the circulatory system, the leading cause of death in the elderly. Gerontologic public health indicators show that geriatric patients in hospitals or old people’s home nursing wings and welfare users are at a higher risk of malnutrition and thus more susceptible to infections, pressure ulcers, falls, and higher mortality. Numerous risk factors and gerontologic public health problems leading to diseased aging, including inappropriate nutritional status in old age can be eliminated by the implementation of the Program of Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary Prevention for the Elderly. This points to the necessity of regular assessment of nutritional status in care for the elderly (age 65+) and use of geroprophylactic measures with the implementation of nutritional gerontologic norms according to the Croatian Nutritional Guidelines for the Elderly. Using the NRS 2002/GeroS/CEZIH web service is of utmost importance for allowing timely gerontologic and/or geriatric intervention, thus preventing mental and physical function impairments in the elderly, reducing disease complications, and rationalizing the growing geriatric consumption due to malnutrition or obesity. A gerontologic public health analysis of defined determinants of monitoring via NRS 2002/GeroS/CEZIH web service was conducted in individuals aged >65, including BMI in particular. The results on 218 geriatric and gerontologic insures for the period from March 1 2015 to August 31 2017 showed the greatest proportion of subjects in the category of obesity (n=36) to be in their early and middle old age (65-84 years ; n=33), whereas the greatest proportion of subjects in the category of severe malnutrition (n=10) and malnutrition (n=4) were in their middle and deep old age (≥75 years ; n=8). Our analysis indicated the role of differentiating geroprophylactic measures according to old age groups because obesity was more common in early and middle old age, whereas malnutrition was more frequently found in middle and deep old age. An integrated gerontologic approach that requires integration of healthcare for the elderly at primary healthcare level, hospital system and public health services for geroprophylaxis, and promotion of health in the elderly, which is enabled by the NRS 2002/ GeroS/CEZIH web service.

elderly population ; geriatric healthcare ; NRS 2002/GeroS/CEZIH web service ;

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