Introduction: Growing population of elderly requires effective medical diagnostics and help. Criteria developed by Fried et al. are most often used for the diagnosis of the frailty syndrome. An inherent element of frailty syndrome is malnu-trition. Malnutrition results from inadequate food supply, coexistence of acute and chronic diseases. Effective nutritional interventions conducted on frail older persons can prevent them from developing the frailty syndrome. Review: The prevalence of frailty in elders is 17% moreover 42.3% are prefrail. There are many scales designed to identify frailty syndrome, but the most common is the classification of Fried et al. Malnutrition is a common state in frail elderly. Basic questionnaire, which is used to diagnose malnutrition, is MNA (Mini-Nutritional Assessment). Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) also can be used. Sarcopenia, which is defined as reduced muscle mass and strength and impaired muscle performance, significantly contribute to the development of frailty. Many studies have shown that an effective method in the preventing of sarcopenia is protein supplementation. Other beneficial lifestyle and diet changes, which can help prevent the development of frailty syndrome, are adherence to the Mediterranean diet, appro-priate intake of carotenoids, vitamin E, selenium and zinc. Another important protective factor is vitamin D levels. Low serum 25(OH)D is strongly associated with frailty. Conclusions: From a nutritional point of view adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet, sufficient intake of protein, micronutrients and vitamin D, as well as regular moderate physical activity, can be crucial in the preventing of the frailty syndrome.
Purpose:To demonstrate the relationship between variety of food intake described with Food Intake Variety Index and nutritional status of Polish adolescents aged 13-15 years.Materials and methods: Pattern of food consumption for 131 adolescents (52% boys, 48% girls, mean age 14.4 ± 0.9) was evaluated by using FIVeQ (Food Intake Variety Questionnaire), whose interpretation allowed to determine FIVeI (Food Intake Variety Index). According to FIVeI four levels of variety of food consumption were defined: inadequate, sufficient, good and very good. Nutritional status was examined with selected anthropometric parameters, i.e.: weight, height, thickness of the skinfolds, body circuits, BMI (Body Mass Index), AMC (Arm Muscle Circumference), WHtR (Waist-to-Height Ratio), WHR (Waist-Hip Ratio) indexes and FM (Fat Mass), %FM (Fat Mass Percentage), FFM (Fat-free Mass), taken with the FUTREX device. In addition, measurements of BP (Blood pressure) were used for assessing nutritional status.Results:Variety of food intake for majority of examined adolescents was defined as sufficient (FIVeI = 28.4 products/week). The average BMI value for both sexes was 20.4 kg/m2, and fat mass percentage was 22.4%. Analysis of percentile ranges of given anthropometric parameters and BP according to gender and level of FIVeI showed that generally their values were within the normal range (10-90 percentile), although overweight and obesity was found in 11% of the adolescents. 38% of the examined group had values of blood pressure indicating prehypertension.Conclusions:Overall nutritional status was defined as good, however variety of food consumption was inadequate and needs improvement. Alarming blood pressure values require further investigation.
Introduction: The history of palliative care dates back to the 1950s. Purpose: To examine the perceptions of hospice workers and family members of hospice patients related to hospice care in Podlaskie province in Poland. Materials and methods: The present study included 103 hospice workers and 104 family members of patients in hospice. The survey approach was used. Results: 56.7% families and 95.1% hospice workers considered hospice comprehensive care for terminally ill patients. In all, 84.6% of the families and 91.3% of the staff thought positively about hospice. Lack of knowledge of family on dying patients (43.3% families and 61.2% hospice workers), low level of funding for hospices (50% families and 64.1% hospice workers) and a small number of hospices and palliative care clinics (47.1% families and 53.4% hospice workers) are the most common problems in palliative care. According to 78.8% of the families and 84.5% of the staff, a specialist of palliative medicine should work in hospice. 62.5% of the families and 75.7% of the hospice workers were convinced that a nurse with a specialization should also work in hospice. According to 92.9% of the families and 96.9% of the staff, the patient and their family receive support in hospice. Conclusions: Most of the respondents were convinced that hospice is an appropriate place for terminally ill patients. Lack of knowledge of family on dying patients, low level of funding for hospices, a small number of hospices and palliative care clinics are the most common problems in palliative care.
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