Comparison of the Health Behavior and Nutrient Intake of the Korean Elderly Before and After the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

This study compared the health behavior, nutrient, and food intake, nutrient density, and index of nutritional quality(INQ) in 2019 before the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to that in 2020, after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Korean elderly over 65 years of age. Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used. The results showed that the average sleep time increased after compared to before the pandemic began. The frequency of eating out decreased, and the intake of vegetables increased while the intake of fish decreased after the pandemic began. Also, the intake of fiber, potassium, and vitamin B2 had increased since COVID-19 struck. An evaluation of the nutrient density and Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) showed that the intake of vitamin B1 decreased while that of vitamin B2 increased in this period. It was found that elderly Koreans had an insufficient intake of vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin, and calcium regardless of the pandemic. Thus, this study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had little effect on the eating habits of Korean seniors. However, sleeping hours and the frequency of eating out were affected during the pandemic.