| Abstract: | We assessed cross-sectionally and prospectively whether, if elders eat with others, it is associated with better diet and health status in the nationally representative Elderly Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (1999-2000) (n=1842). Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was derived from 24-hr dietary recall data at baseline. Participants' disease incidence, medical usage and survival status were obtained from the National Health Insurance databases (1999-2006) and the National Death Registry up to 2008. Logistic regression and Cox proportional-hazards models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR), hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). There were 83.2% elders who ate with others at least one meal a day at baseline. They were more likely to be younger, better educated, with a better income, have married and to be living with a spouse or to live with others. Compared with those who ate alone, after adjustment for covariates, elders ate with others had high DDS, with higher energy, vegetable and meat intakes. They also had better dietary quality (DDS 蠅 4 vs < 4) (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.19-2.69). Those women who ate with others had better mental health and health-related quality of life, including a lower depression tendency (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.02-3.38), a higher cognitive function (SPMSQ, 8.83 vs. 8.36, p=0.005) and more favorable SF-36. Those older people who ate with others had less medical utilization, including less outpatient visits (HR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94-0.99) and shorter hospital stays (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.65-0.71). To sum up, those older adults who ate with others were more likely to have a better diet, mental health and health-related quality of life, and also to have a lower use of medical services. |
