Association of Dietary Quality with Subjective Health-Related Perception and Chronic Diseases According to Age Segmentation of Korean Elderly

Objectives: This study examined the Korean elderly’s dietary intake status, subjective health-related perception and chronic disease prevalence among age groups. Associations of dietary quality with subjective health-related perception and chronic diseases were also examined. Methods: Based on data from the 7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 3,231 elderly were selected and categorized into 4 age groups of ‘65 ~ 69’, ‘70 ~ 74’, ‘75 ~ 79’ and ‘over 80’. Nutrient intakes, proportions of those with insufficient nutrient intakes, Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), some subjective health-related perceptions and prevalence of major chronic diseases were compared according to the age groups. Differences in the subjective health-related perceptions and odds ratios of the chronic diseases according to the quartile levels of KHEI within the same age group were analyzed. Results: With the increase of age, several nutrient intakes ( P < 0.001) and KHEI scores significantly decreased ( P < 0.01). In women, activity restriction increased ( P < 0.05), and EQ-5D score decreased with age ( P < 0.001). Prevalence of hypertension ( P < 0.0001), hypercholesterolemia ( P < 0.05) and anemia ( P < 0.01) significantly increased, while hypertriglyceridemia ( P < 0.01) significantly decreased only in men. Obesity prevalence decreased, while underweight prevalence increased ( P < 0.05). Subjective health status, EQ-5D score and PHQ-9 score significantly improved as KHEI score increased in certain age groups of women ( P < 0.05). Odds ratio of hypercholesterolemia significantly increased with the increase of KHEI score in 65 ~ 69-year-old women. However, hypertension and anemia significantly decreased with the increase of KHEI score in 75 ~ 79-year-old women ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: The study findings suggest that nutrition management and policy for the Korean elderly need to apply a segmented age standard that can better reflect their dynamic characteristics.