Abstract
BackgroundThe role of nutritional policy and services on the quality of life of older individuals has not been extensively studied. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between nutritional services within the public health care system and older people's health status. MethodsDuring 2010, information of various nutritional services provided in 9 Greek Islands and Cyprus Republic was retrieved through local health care authorities. With the exception of the Cyprus Republic, a large proportion of dieticians in the rest of the studied islands participated in this survey (n=88). The health status of the referent older population was retrieved from the Mediterranean islands' (MEDIS) study. ResultsAfter various adjustment, islands that had nutritional services offered within the public health care system had lower likelihood of observing the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and obesity above the median rate of the referent population (odds ratio (95% CI), hypercholesterolemia, 0.11 (0.02, 0.55), diabetes, 0.03 (0.02, 0.26), and obesity, 0.10 (0.02, 0.50). Continuous and higher education status of dieticians and the completion of nutrition sessions seem also to contribute to the reduction of the CVD risk burden in these islanders. ConclusionsActive nutritional policy and enhancement of nutritional services within the public health care system may contribute to improved health and quality of life among older populations.
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