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. 2021;25(7):862-868.
doi: 10.1007/s12603-021-1626-2.

County-Level Characteristics Driving Malnutrition Death Rates among Older Adults in Texas

C D Bergeron  1 , J M John, M Sribhashyam, G Odonkor, O Oloruntoba, A L Merianos, S Horel, M L Smith
Affiliations

County-Level Characteristics Driving Malnutrition Death Rates among Older Adults in Texas

C D Bergeron et al. J Nutr Health Aging. 2021.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to identify older adult malnutrition in Texas, examine county-level characteristics associated with crude malnutrition death rates, and describe assets and opportunities available to address and improve malnutrition among the older population.

Design: Secondary data analysis using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's WONDER online database, the U.S. Census 2014-2018 American Community Survey, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Access Research Atlas data.

Setting: All 254 counties in the state of Texas.

Participants: Individuals aged 65 years and older.

Measurement: The dependent variable was the proportion of county-level malnutrition crude death rates. Independent variables included Health Provider Shortage Area designations, rurality, poverty status, food access, age, race, ethnicity, and education.

Results: The overall malnutrition crude death rate in Texas was 65.6 deaths per 100,000 older Texans, ranging from 0 to 414.46 deaths per 100,000 depending on the county. Higher malnutrition crude death rates were associated with non-metropolitan counties (P=0.018), lower education (P=0.047), greater household poverty (P=0.010), and low food access (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Socioeconomic disadvantages at the county-level appear to be one of the root causes of malnutrition crude death rates in Texas.

Keywords: Malnutrition; Texas; assets; death rates; older population.

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Conflict of interest statement

Caroline D. Bergeron has no conflict of interest to disclose. Jessica Mary John has no conflict of interest to disclose. Mitali Sribhashyam has no conflict of interest to disclose. Gloria Odonkor has no conflict of interest to disclose. Oluyomi Oloruntoba has no conflict of interest to disclose. Ashley L. Merianos has no conflict of interest to disclose. Scott Horel has no conflict of interest to disclose. Matthew Lee Smith has no conflict of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Risk and asset map for malnutrition
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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