Alimentary, nutritional and health aspects of elderly women in attendance at the Nucleo de Atencao ao Idoso, Recife/2005.

摘要

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2005 with 106 elderly women (>60 yr-old) cared for at Nucleo de Atencao ao Idoso, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil, to examine diet, nutrition and health parameters. Clinical and sociodemographic variables, body mass index (BMI) and the food intake frequency according to food groups were assessed. Results revealed that 47.2% of the women were overweight. As for blood pressure (BP), 69% of the women were found to be hypertensive and 31% normotensive. The mean BMI of hypertensive and normotensive elderly women were significantly different (P = 0.027), and positive correlation was noted between BMI and systolic and diastolic pressure (P < 0.001). Cereal and bread groups were reported to be consumed most on a daily basis by the elderly women. Concerning water intake, 51.9% ingested 1-4 glasses of water daily. Systolic and diastolic pressures showed no correlation with food intake.