Health, feeding and care profiles of older adults in Argentina

Abstract

Argentina is currently experiencing an accelerated aging process in which socio-economic-environmental factors act synergistically on health, increasing the comorbidities and multimorbidities that characterize old age and affect 24% of older people (OP). In old age, health/nutrition/care practices are a central category for understanding aging modalities. This work proposes to analyze the health/food/care (HFC) profiles and the quality of life index (QLI) of OP Argentinas, 2019-2022.

A cross-sectional ecological study that illustrates the distribution of HFC profiles at provincial level (n=26) from secondary sources: National Survey of Risk Factors (2019) and National Census of Population, Households and Housing (2022). Hierarchical and agglomerative cluster analysis was performed using Ward's method. Next, multiple linear regression models were constructed, considering the QIL (Velazquez et al. 2019) as a response variable, to identify associations with variables related to the aging process.

5 profiles were identified, of which 3 were the most representative (including 85% of the OP). Cluster 2 (n=7), made up of provinces in the center and south of the country, presented higher educational attainment, higher socio-economic level and higher consumption of healthy food. Cluster 3 (n=8), composed of central provinces where 60% of the Argentine population is concentrated, presented higher health care (social work, prepaid system or emergency service), higher average level of education, higher aging index and self-perceived good health. Cluster 4 (n=6), represented by the northwestern provinces, showed lower socioeconomic level and education, >public health coverage, lower aging index and low levels of physical activity. Regarding the QIL, it was found that as the proportion of people with higher fruit and vegetable consumption increases, the ICV increases (CI 0.004;0.08). However, as the Sanitary Vulnerability Index and the number of single-person households (living alone) increase, the QIL decreases (CI -6.75;-2.86 and CI -0.05;-0.00006, respectively).

This exploratory study takes into account differences between aging groups and contexts, laying the groundwork for rethinking comprehensive policies to reduce inequalities in OP vulnerability and adapt health and care systems.