Association Between Food Insecurity and Multiple Chronic Diseases in Elderly People With Disabilities in South Korea

This study examines the relationship between food insecurity and multiple chronic diseases among Korean older adults with disabilities while identifying sociodemographic and disability-related characteristics associated with both conditions. Using data from the 2020 Disability Life Panel Survey of Korea, which included 2161 disabled individuals aged 60 or older, we conducted frequency analysis, chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression. The analysis revealed that 24.85% faced high food insecurity risk and 45.49% had multiple chronic diseases. Those at high risk for both conditions were more likely to be female, less educated, unemployed, and in low-income households. Even after controlling for sociodemographic and disability-related factors, those at a higher risk of food insecurity were significantly more likely to have multiple chronic diseases. This result indicates that food security can play a protective role in reducing the risk of multiple chronic diseases. These insights may assist in developing targeted prevention strategies and health policies for older adults with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of food security interventions in chronic disease management.