Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective To assess agreement between two meal quality indexes adapted for elderly people, evidencing their similarities and differences Methods Agreement study with 322 institutionalized elderly individuals. Food consumption data were collected by the method of weighted food record, in two nonconsecutive days. The Meal Quality Index and the Main Meal Quality Index of each older adult were calculated for the lunch meal. Agreement between methods was tested by cross-classification in quartiles and weighted kappa (Kw), and the difference between medians by the Wilcoxon test. Results The Meal Quality Index median was 54.67 points and the Main Meal Quality Index 53.51 points (p=0.723). When the components of each index were assessed, those associated to the consumption of carbohydrates, total fat and saturated fat were similar. The consumption of fruits separated from vegetables in the Main MealQuality Index evidenced low consumption of vegetables by the elderly. Cross-classification by quartiles showed good agreement; the exact one being 48.8% and the disagreement 3.4% (Kw=0,447). The proportion of elderlyindividuals in the same exact or adjacent quartile was greater than 85.0%. Agreement was higher in males (89.4%, Kw=0.475); in the age range of 70 to 79 years (91.1%; Kw=0.562) and in non-profit nursing homes(96.7%; Kw=0.622). Conclusion The two indexes reviewed show a good agreement between them and common characteristics. The number of components is higher in the MMQI and may represent a more detailed assessment of meal quality.
Highlights
Brazilian population has experienced a changing process in age structure due to the decrease in fertility levels and increase in life expectancy, leading to a greater population aging [1,2]
The consumption of fruits separated from vegetables in the Main Meal Quality Index evidenced low consumption of vegetables by the elderly
The number of components is higher in the Main Meal Quality Index (MMQI) and may represent a more detailed assessment of meal quality
Summary
Brazilian population has experienced a changing process in age structure due to the decrease in fertility levels and increase in life expectancy, leading to a greater population aging [1,2]. AGREEMENT BETWEEN MEAL QUALITY INDEXES 3 demographic transition has led to an increase in the provision of formal care services, among which Long-term Care Institutions for the Elderly (LTCI) [3]. The health profile of these elderly people is marked by high incidence of diseases, cognitive incapacity, depression, functional capacity decline during the institutionalization term and restrictions in daily activities capacity [5,6,7,8]. It is important to emphasize that aging is a natural process involving anatomical and functional changes, with repercussions on the health conditions and the nutritional status of the elderly [9]. Institutionalization imposes changes in the routine of elderly people that can change their dietary habits and influence their health fragility, due to reduced food acceptance and consequent impairment of their nutritional status [10,11]
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