Chronic disease burden predicts food insecurity among older adults

Bibliographic Data

ID15097666
AuthorsJane Jih (0000-0001-9367-7376, University of California, San Francisco, corresponding author), Irena Stijacic‐Cenzer (San Francisco VA Medical Center), Irena Stijacic-Cenzer, Hilary K Seligman (0000-0003-2292-5189, San Francisco General Hospital), W John Boscardin (0000-0003-3121-9526, San Francisco VA Medical Center), Tung T Nguyen (0000-0001-9897-6551, University of California, San Francisco), Christine S Ritchie (0000-0002-4881-9416, San Francisco VA Medical Center)
Year2018
Volume21
Issue9
Pages1737-1742
Publication date2018-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980017004062
PMID29388533
OpenAlexW2787098284
LanguageEN
Citations received28
References cited21

Objective Increased out-of-pocket health-care expenditures may exert budget pressure on low-income households that leads to food insecurity. The objective of the present study was to examine whether older adults with higher chronic disease burden are at increased risk of food insecurity. Design Secondary analysis of the 2013 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Health Care and Nutrition Study (HCNS) linked to the 2012 nationally representative HRS. Setting USA. Subjects Respondents of the 2013 HRS HCNS with household incomes n 3552). Chronic disease burden was categorized by number of concurrent chronic conditions (0–1, 2–4, ≥5 conditions), with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) defined as ≥2 conditions. Results The prevalence of food insecurity was 27·8 %. Compared with those having 0–1 conditions, respondents with MCC were significantly more likely to report food insecurity, with the adjusted odds ratio for those with 2–4 conditions being 2·12 (95 % CI 1·45, 3·09) and for those with ≥5 conditions being 3·64 (95 % CI 2·47, 5·37). Conclusions A heavy chronic disease burden likely exerts substantial pressure on the household budgets of older adults, creating an increased risk for food insecurity. Given the high prevalence of food insecurity among older adults, screening those with MCC for food insecurity in the clinical setting may be warranted in order to refer to community food resources

Chronic disease · Disease · Disease burden · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Food insecurity · Food security · Geography · Logistic regression · Odds · Odds ratio · Population · Poverty · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Homelessness and Social Issues · Medicine · Gerontology