Whaikid Phatcharaphon, Piaseu Noppawan
Doctor of Philosophy Program in Nursing Science (International Program), Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, and Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University 270 Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Center for Health Promotion and Well-Being, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University 270 Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Nutrients. 2025 May 23;17(11):1776. doi: 10.3390/nu17111776.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Possible sarcopenia and malnutrition are critical public health concerns among older adults, particularly in vulnerable populations such as those with a history of homelessness. However, limited evidence exists on the nutritional status and muscle health of this group in Thailand.
This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of formerly homeless older adults residing in supportive housing in Thailand and examine its association with possible sarcopenia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 116 participants aged 50 years and older. Sociodemographic information was collected using a structured questionnaire. Nutritional status was then assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment short form (MNA-SF) and body mass index (BMI). Possible sarcopenia was determined based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria, including low calf circumference, reduced handgrip strength, and/or low gait speed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.
Of all participants, 66.4% were male, with a mean age of 59.14 years (SD = 7.791). A total of 78.4% were identified as having possible sarcopenia. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between possible sarcopenia and malnutrition (OR = 6.111, 95% CI = 2.104-17.750), low BMI (OR = 16.784, 95% CI = 3.729-75.535), and waist circumference (OR = 0.129, 95% CI = 0.049-0.342). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that malnutrition (OR = 3.429, 95% CI = 1.093-10.763) and low BMI (OR = 11.732, 95% CI = 2.523-54.567) were significant predictors of possible sarcopenia, collectively explaining 33.8% of the variance.
The findings underscore a high prevalence of possible sarcopenia among formerly homeless older adults in supportive housing in Thailand and highlight poor nutritional status, particularly low BMI and malnutrition, as a key contributing factor. These results emphasize the importance of early nutritional screening and interventions to prevent or delay sarcopenia in this vulnerable population.
背景/目的：潜在的肌肉减少症和营养不良是老年人，尤其是有流浪史等弱势群体中的关键公共卫生问题。然而，泰国该群体的营养状况和肌肉健康方面的证据有限。
本研究旨在评估泰国居住在支持性住房中的前流浪老年人的营养状况，并研究其与潜在肌肉减少症的关联。对116名50岁及以上的参与者进行了横断面研究。使用结构化问卷收集社会人口统计学信息。然后使用微型营养评定简表（MNA-SF）和体重指数（BMI）评估营养状况。根据亚洲肌肉减少症工作组（AWGS）2019年标准确定潜在肌肉减少症，包括小腿围低、握力降低和/或步速低。使用描述性统计和逻辑回归分析数据。
在所有参与者中，66.4%为男性，平均年龄为59.14岁（标准差=7.791）。共有78.4%被确定为有潜在肌肉减少症。单因素分析显示潜在肌肉减少症与营养不良（比值比=6.111，95%置信区间=2.104-17.750）、低BMI（比值比=16.784，95%置信区间=3.729-75.535）和腰围（比值比=0.129，95%置信区间=0.049-0.342）之间存在显著关联。多因素逻辑回归表明，营养不良（比值比=3.429，95%置信区间=1.093-10.763）和低BMI（比值比=11.732，95%置信区间=2.523-54.567）是潜在肌肉减少症的显著预测因素，共同解释了33.8%的变异。
研究结果强调泰国居住在支持性住房中的前流浪老年人中潜在肌肉减少症的患病率很高，并突出了营养不良状况不佳，尤其是低BMI和营养不良，是一个关键促成因素。这些结果强调了早期营养筛查和干预对于预防或延缓这一弱势群体肌肉减少症的重要性。
