농촌 노인에서 걷기 실천과 영양상태의 변화가 노쇠 발생에 미치는 영향*

Abstract

= Abstract = Objective: This study aimed to estimate the incidence of frailty in non-frail rural residents aged 65 years or older and to determine whether changes in walking activity and nutritional status affect the incidence of frailty. Methods: The data on demographic variables, social activity, frailty assessment, nutritional status assessment, and walking activity of 326 non-frail subjects aged 65 years or older were used. The changes in walking practice and nutritional status were assessed at the baseline and again at the two-year follow-up. Based on these assessments, participants were classified into four groups: non practice-non practice, non practice-practice, practice-non practice, and practice-practice. The relationship between frailty and changes in walking practice and Nutritional status was analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis, adjusting for demographic variables such as gender, age, living alone, household income, and social activity. Results: The incidence of frailty in 2020 was 24.2%, with 20.6% in men and 27.0% in women. Regarding the occurrence of frailty based on changes in walking practice, those who did not engage in walking had a 2.85 times higher risk of frailty compared to those who walked regularly (95% CI: 1.30-6.22, p = 0.009). Regarding nutritional status changes, the risk of frailty was 8.15 times higher those who remained malnourished or at risk of malnutrition compared to those who maintained normal nutritional status (95% CI: 3.53-18.78, p < 0.001). Additionally, those who were initially normal but later became malnourished or at risk of malnutrition had a 10.73 times higher risk of frailty (95% CI: 4.20-27.41, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In order to reduce the risk of frailty in the elderly, it is necessary to maintain physical activity appropriate to the health level of the elderly living in rural areas, especially to activate walking activity that can be easily done in rural areas, and to improve nutritional status.