Nutrition UP 65 - nutritional strategies facing an ageing population

Project facts

Project promoter:
Universidade do Porto - Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação
Project Number:
PT06-0005
Target groups
Elderly people
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€519,908
Final project cost:
€514,210
From EEA Grants:
€ 371,517
The project is carried out in:
Portugal

Description

The ageing population and the increase in the life expectancy represent increasing social and health challenges globally and in developed countries in particular. With this project we intend to contribute for the reduction of social inequalities by (1) promoting an increased knowledge on crucial data for implementing public health actions about malnutrition, obesity and their coexistence, sarcopenia, weakness, dehydration, and vitamin D deficiency, and (2) the empowerment of health professionals contacting with the geriatric population, in the field of nutritional status monitoring in order to promptly intervene for the prevention of health complications. Thereby, the following target groups will be constituted to achieve the above mentioned objectives: (1) older population and (2) health professionals (physicians, nurses, nutritionists and dietitians and other caregivers). The main expected outcomes include: (1) enhance the competences of the health professionals in the areas of monitoring the nutritional status and early detection of deficiency states; (2) reduce the demand for health care resources due to malnutrition, including dehydration and Vitamin D deficiency or health problems triggered by these conditions; (3) decrease incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases with nutritional origins; (4) increase the quality of life of elderly populations; (5) decrease in the prevailing inequalities among the older population. Portugal and Norway face common problems with regards to nutrition in the elderly, although the two countries have many different social structures for older adults, social support and nutrition surveillance systems. The Portuguese team will benefit from the good practices examples of Norway and Portugal will share with Norway, the experience of validating a practical tool to assess dehydration among elderly populations which is of large importance given the lack of research regarding this topic.

Summary of project results

Nutrition is an important determinant of health in older people. Poor nutritional status has been associated with unfavourable health effects, such as an increase morbidity, unintentional weight loss and decrease in functional capacity. Most of the times, these existing nutritional disorders go unrecognized along the years, affecting adversely the daily life of older people and their health outcomes. Since most nutritional disorders are potentially preventable and easily modifiable, their identification by health professionals and caregivers remains of major relevance. The main aims of this project were: 1) to characterize the nutritional status of the Portuguese elderly population; 2) to develop educational programs in the field of nutrition; 3) to empower health professionals and caregivers dealing with older adults’ nutritional status. This nationwide project, using a representative sample of 1500 Portuguese subjects ≥65 years old, provided an important contribution to overcome the lack of data regarding nutritional status of older adults in Portugal, namely assessing the prevalence of undernutrition, obesity, sarcopenia, frailty, dehydration, inadequacy of Vitamin D and estimating sodium intake. This study using a representative widely sample of older adults, distributed by the Portuguese continental regions, allowed an accurate “picture” of the nutritional status of the elderly people. This projected showed that 14.8% of the older people are undernourished, 38.9% are obese, 16.3% are hypohydrated or at risk of hypohydration, 39.6% of participants are at risk of Vitamin D deficiency and 84.9% have a salt intake above the WHO recommendations. The collected data was used to develop educational tools and training materials for health care professionals, caregivers, older adults and food handlers. 760 health care professionals were trained under the scope of this project. Besides the training offered, this project has developed several educational materials, such as videos, slides and leaflets about themes such as healthy eating, hypertension, Alzheimer Disease, obesity and dysphagia, to be use by health care professionals, caregivers and elderly people. Three scientific papers were published in international and national newspapers. The project organized 2 scientific conferences, and was present in 69 scientific events, through the form of poster or oral communication.

Summary of bilateral results

This project had a partnership with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), more precisely with the Professor Cátia Martins. This partnership allowed the exchange of technical expertise between the partners, regarding issues faced by the two countries, namely the high prevalence of obesity and vitamin D inadequacy in older adults. Professor Cátia Martins supported Nutrition UP 65 project regarding the definition of the study methodology. She also has participated in the writing of scientific papers. Moreover, a scientific paper about obesity in Norway and Portugal is now being prepared in the scope of this partnership. In order to strength the bilateral relations between the two countries, the Project Promotor had developed mobility protocols with NTNU. The goals of these protocol and grants were to host Norwegian students in Portugal and possibility their participation in the project’s activities. However, no applications were received. The project also has benefited from the know-how of Dr.Guru Smedshaug, from the Department of Preventive Health – Norwegian Directorate of Health, who did a presentation in the Nutrition UP 65 conference, about the nutritional strategies for older adults in the framework of Norway public health programs.