Prevalence and trends of low body weight among elderly population aged 60 years and above in China in 2002-2015

Abstract

Understand the current situation and changing trends of low body weight in elderly population aged 60 years and above. Data was collected from 2002 Chinese Nutrition and Health Survey, 2010-2013 Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance and 2015 Chinese Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance. Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used for all surveys or surveillance. In 2002, 27 778 samples of people aged 60 and over were taken from 132 monitoring sites in mainland China. In 2010-2013, 34 581 subjects were selected from 150 monitoring points in mainland China. In 2015, 59 576 subjects were selected from 302 monitoring points in mainland China. Questionnaires collected basic information such as gender, and date of birth, and information such as height and weight were collected through physical examination. The prevalence of low body weight in the elderly aged 60 years and above showed a downward trend from 2002 to 2015 in China(P<0.01). The prevalence of low body weight decreased from 11.67% in 2002 to 5.19% in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight among males decreased from 11.51% in 2002 to 5.21% in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight among females decreased from 11.83% in 2002 to 5.17% in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight in the elderly aged 60 years and above showed an upward trend with age. The prevalence of low body weight in urban areas decreased from 5.85% in 2002 to 3.31% in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight in rural areas decreased from 16.25% in 2002 to 6.67% in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight in seven geographic regions of China decreased from 2002 to 2015. The prevalence of low body weight was highest in the elderly population aged 60 years and above in South China(9.49%(95%CI 8.61%-10.38%)) and lowest in North China(2.55%(95%CI 2.15%-2.95%)) in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight among the elderly aged 60 years and above in China decreased from 2002 to 2015. The prevalence of low body weight increased with age. The prevalence was higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and the prevalence in South China was higher than in other geographic regions.