Prevalence of malnutrition risk among institutionalized elderly from North Bohemia is higher than among those in the Capital City of Prague, Czech Republic.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to assess the risk of malnutrition among institutionalized elderly individuals in North Bohemia and compare it to the risk of malnutrition in the capital city of Prague, Czech Republic. In the Czech Republic, very few studies have been conducted with the goal of describing and evaluating the nutritional status of the institutionalized elderly. METHODS: In this study, data was collected from 254 elderly individuals (aged ≥ 65) residing in retirement homes in North Bohemia and then compared with similar data for the elderly living in retirement homes in Prague (the data from Prague were previously published in 2013). The data included an Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) test; anthropometric measurements - Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, triceps skinfold thickness; and biochemical parameters - albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, urea, and creatinine. RESULTS: Mean BMI values were 27.4 kg/m2 for females and 26.3 kg/m2 for males. According to the MNA questionnaire, 10.4% of all tested elderly were malnourished and 50.8% were at risk of malnutrition; lager proportion of females were found to be malnourished than males. Biochemical indicators supported the MNA results. MNA categories correlated positively with independence (r = 0.56; p < 0.001), mental status (r = 0.54; p < 0.001), mobility (r = 0.46; p < 0.001), calf circumference (r = 0.42; p < 0.001), BMI, and the ability to self-feed (both r = 0.37; p < 0.001). The percentage of institutionalized elderly with malnutrition living in North Bohemia and Prague were about the same; however, the percentage of those at risk of malnutrition was higher in North Bohemia (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Study results confirmed that the institutionalized elderly face issues that lower their nutritional status and put them at increased risk; clearly these issues need urgent attention.

[Effect of the liquid milk nutritional supplement with enhanced content of whey protein on the nutritional status of the elderly]. / Vliv podávání tekutého mlécného nutricního doplnku se zvýseným obsahem syrovátkových bílkovin na nutricní stav senioru

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term administration of liquid nutritional supplement with increased amounts of whey protein and reduced amounts of lactose, produced in accordance with a new recipe "Nutrisen" on the elderly living in institutionalized care. METHODS: The study was carried out from May to July, 2013, on 47 retirement home residents, living in Prague, all of which were 65 years or older. Supplemented group (n = 23) consumed (200 ml) milk drinks with three different flavours on a daily basis for eight weeks. The reference group was on a normal diet. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between participants in both groups. Anthropometric and biochemical indicators of nutritional status and tolerance of the nutritional supplement during long-term use were evaluated. RESULTS: Both compliance (daily intake program) and tolerance of the nutritionally defined supplement were very good. For the supplemented group, there was an average weight increased of 700 grams after the 8 week nutritional supplement test period. Average levels of albumin and prealbumin increased significantly (from the beginning to the end of the program), 35.5 ± 4.52 g/l vs 36.19 ± 4.1 g/l and 0.160 ± 0.05 vs 0.174 ± 0.04 g/l (p < 0.05), vitamin D levels increased from 31.2 ± 16.4 nmol/l to 36.8 ± 17.7 nmol/l (p < 0.001) and HDL-cholesterol levels increased from 1.29 ± 0.33 mmol/l to 1.35 ± 0.35 mmol/l (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The specific nutritionally defined milk drink (Nutrisen), used in this study, was well tolerated by the elderly study participants, over the eight-week clinical study. We observed a positive effect on the participants weight, serum albumin, prealbumin, vitamin D and HDL-cholesterol.

Quality of life and quality of education among physiotherapy students in Europe.

Background: The study of physiotherapy is challenging and can affect the students' well-being and quality of life. The aim of this study was to describe and compare factors that could affect well-being among students across Europe. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire survey, students of bachelor's physiotherapy programs from 23 European faculties, from 8 countries, were interviewed on mental health and stress burden, sleep quality, dietary habits, and physical activity. Results: Although 75% of students rated their quality of life positively and 47% were satisfied with their mental health, 65% showed higher levels of stress and 51% described impaired sleep quality. The minimum physical activity of 150 min weekly was described by 79% of students, within which 67% engaged in strengthening twice a week. Students with a higher stress load/worse psychological health also showed worse sleep quality and lower amount of physical activity, women were significantly worse off. In terms of physical activity and sleep quality, students from Finland and Kosovo achieved the best results, while students from Italy, Greece, and Portugal achieved the worst. Students from Italy indicated the greatest dissatisfaction with the organisation of the study system and communication with teachers, while in Kosovo students rated the communication and study organisation the highest. All students had a problem with adhering to nutritional habits. Students from Italy and Spain, with the lowest body mass indexes and weight averages, were closest to the nutrition recommendations. Conclusion: We demonstrated that physiotherapy students are burdened with stress, suffer from sleep disorders, and do not follow the recommendations regarding nutrition nor physical activity. There are significant differences between universities and countries in some aspects.

Corrigendum: Quality of life and quality of education among physiotherapy students in Europe.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1344028.].

Nutritional status assessment of institutionalized elderly in Prague, Czech Republic.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies in the Czech Republic describing and evaluating the nutritional status of institutionalized elderly. METHODS: Data were collected from 659 women and 156 men aged 65 years and older and living in retirement homes in and around Prague. Data included: a Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA questionnaire), anthropometric measurements and biochemical evaluations. RESULTS: According to the MNA questionnaire, 10.2% of these elderly individuals were malnourished and 39.4% were at risk of malnutrition. More women than men were malnourished (OR = 0.59 and 95% CI 0.42-0.86). Mean BMI values were 25.5 for females and 27.5 for males. MNA was positively correlated mostly with immobility (r = 0.63; p < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.57; p < 0.001) and mid-arm circumference (r = 0.56; p < 0.001). Serum albumin levels were <28 g/l in 1.3% (1.3% of the women and 1.36% of the men) and between 29.0 - 34.0 g/l in 21% (22.5% of the women and 14.4% of the men). Statistically significant differences between groups according to MNA scores were found for albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and creatinine. Prevalence of smoking was significantly higher among males. CONCLUSION: The study results confirmed that institutionalized elderly, especially women, should be considered a nutritionally vulnerable population group that needs attention.

Risk of Breast Cancer Revealed by Mammographic Screening in Czech Women Aged 40-45 Years, a Monocentric Cohort Study.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate breast cancer risk in women aged 40-45 years not included in the routine mammographic screening programme in the Czech Republic and to assess the suitability of the screening interval. Our cohort study was conducted using registry data of one mammography centre (Bulovka Hospital in Prague) between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2017. The risk of breast cancer was evaluated using a positive predictive finding (PPF) corresponding to the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) scores of 4 and 5. The annual PPF incidence rate achieved 2.25 per 1000 women aged 40-45 years and was not significantly different from that (3.31) of women of 45-50 years of age as demonstrated by an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.75 (95% confidence interval: 0.42-1.33). It was found that a screening interval longer than 3 years increased the chance of PPF occurrence 1.7 times independently of the women's age, signalling a risk of failure of early detection of breast cancer. The same PPF incidence rates both in women aged 40-45 years and in older ones indicates that even younger women should be eligible for enrolment in the routine mammographic screening programme in the Czech Republic.

Effect of Food with Low Enrichment of N-3 Fatty Acids in a Two-Month Diet on the Fatty Acid Content in the Plasma and Erythrocytes and on Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Healthy Young Men.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 series (n-3 PUFA) exhibit a number of favorable effects on the human organism and it is desirable to increase their intake in the diet. For this purpose, flaxseed oil was added to a chicken-feed mixture for the production of meat and eggs. The content of n-3 PUFA in the obtained meat was increased from 250 mg (reference value) to 900 mg in 100 g of meat and from 110 mg (reference value) to 190 mg in 100 g of whole egg; the enriched products are designated as omega-3 meat and omega-3 eggs. Omega-3 meat and eggs were subsequently fed for a period of eight weeks in an amount of 480 g of meat and four eggs (228 g netto) a week to a group of 14 healthy volunteers, whose body composition parameters were measured and blood was analyzed biochemically to determine blood lipids, coagulation parameters, plasma, and erythrocyte fatty acid spectrum composition. A control group of 14 volunteers was fed normal chicken and eggs in the same regime. The performed dietary intervention increases the intake of long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) by 37 mg per day, which represents 7-15% of the recommended daily dose. The performed tests demonstrated that the consumption of omega-3 enriched meat and eggs significantly increases the content of n-3 PUFA in the erythrocytes, which are a long-term indicator of fatty acid intake. This intervention has no demonstrable effect on the basic body parameters, such as body weight, fat content, Body Mass Index (BMI), and also on the plasma cholesterol level, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), blood clotting and inflammation markers, and omega-3 index.

Higher prevalence of smoking and lower BMI, waist circumference, cholesterol and triacylglyceride levels in Prague's homeless compared to a majority of the Czech population.

BACKGROUND: Homeless people have higher morbidity and mortality rates than the general population. Research has shown that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in older homeless adults. This study was undertaken to describe the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the homeless population in Prague. METHODS: Data was obtained from a cross-sectional study carried out in 2003. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerides (TAG) and smoking habits were assessed. The homeless participants in the study were recruited from a homeless center run by a Prague charitable organization called Nadeje ("Hope") and at Prague's main railway station. Most participants were assessed at the Nadeje center (134 persons) while the rest were assessed at Prague's Bulovka University Hospital (67 persons). RESULTS: A total of 201 homeless (174 males and 27 females) aged 19-70 years were examined. Mean values of BMI, WC, TC and TAG in homeless men and women were within normal limits. Compared with the majority of the Czech population, the homeless had significantly lower mean levels of TC and TAG and lower BMI and WC values. When compared to the majority of the Czech population, the incidence of smoking among the homeless was significantly higher. Among smokers in both populations, no differences were found in the number of cigarettes smoked per day. CONCLUSION: Classical cardiovascular risk factors such as TC, TAG, BMI and WC, are significantly lower in Prague's homeless minority than in the majority of the Czech population. However, the prevalence of smoking is much higher in the homeless population.

Trans fatty acids in subcutaneous fat of pregnant women and in human milk in the Czech Republic.

Using capillary gas chromatography, we determined total content of trans fatty acids (TFA) and C18:1 trans fatty acids in human milk and subcutaneous fat in 35 healthy Prague women. The average content of TFA in human milk fat was 4.22% (SD = 1.87%) of all fatty acids, and the value of trans C18:1 isomers was 3.63% (SD = 1.81%). The average concentration of total trans fatty acids in subcutaneous fat was 4.41% (SD = 0.79%) and the average content of C18:1 trans isomers was 2.81% (SD = 0.61%).

Blood levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury in the elderly living in institutionalized care in the Czech Republic.

BACKGROUND: There is limited research examining the chemical load of toxic metals in the elderly. The aim of the present study was two-fold: to determine the body burden of lead, cadmium and mercury in association with age, gender, locality, lifestyle factors and potential health impacts among this population and to compare the values with blood values from the general Czech population aged 18-64 years. METHODS: Lead, cadmium and mercury were examined in the blood of institutionalized senior citizens (46 males, 151 females aged 61-100 years) from two localities in the Czech Republic (Prague and Teplice) from 2009 through 2011. Measurements were made using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Pb, Cd) and a single purpose spectrometer AMA 254 (Hg). RESULTS: Geometric means (GM) of whole blood lead (B-Pb), cadmium (B-Cd) and mercury (B-Hg) levels were 25.3µg/l, 0.55µg/l and 0.21µg/l, respectively. No age-related differences were found for B-Pb and B-Cd levels but a negative correlation with age was observed for B-Hg levels (p=0.04). B-Pb levels in men were significantly higher than in women (GM 29.9µg/l vs. 24.1µg/l). B-Cd was significantly higher in women (GM 0.57µg/l) than in men (0.50µg/l) (p=0.007) and in smokers (GM 1.29µg/l) than in nonsmokers (GM 0.53µg/l) (p=<0.001) and in seniors from Prague (GM 0.60µg/l) compared to those from Teplice (GM 0.43µg/l) (p=<0.001). Seniors with a history of chronic kidney disease, stroke and those using psycho-pharmaceuticals had higher B-Pb levels (p=0.008, 0.04 and 0.05, resp.), seniors diagnosed with atherosclerosis had higher B-Cd levels (p=0.002) and seniors using psycho-pharmaceuticals had higher B-Hg levels (p=0.07). B-Hg levels were also positively correlated with blood albumin levels (p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides data on levels of heavy metals in a group of elderly people. Such information is very scarce. Associations with diseases should be the subject of further investigation.

Trace elements in the blood of institutionalized elderly in the Czech Republic.

Whole blood selenium, copper, zinc and manganese concentrations of 197 institutionalized senior citizens (46 males, 151 females) aged 61-100 years (mean age 83.6 years) were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry from two localities in the Czech Republic (Prague and Teplice) from 2009 through 2011. Geometric means (GM) of whole blood selenium (B-Se), copper (B-Cu), zinc (B-Zn) and manganese (B-Mn) levels were 74.0 µg/l, 941.0 µg/l, 5898.0 µg/l and 10.9 µg/l, respectively. Gender-related differences were found with significantly higher B-Cu levels in women and significantly higher B-Zn levels in men. The percentage of seniors with B-Se levels lower than 56 µg/l (which is equivalent to the critical value of 45 µg/l of Se in serum (S-Se)) was 8.6%. A negative correlation between age and B-Se levels was found. B-Zn positively correlated with serum albumin and prealbumin whereas a negative correlation between age and B-Zn was observed. Seniors with diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis had higher B-Cu and B-Mn levels, respectively, than those without these diagnoses. The elderly from Prague had significantly higher B-Mn concentrations than those from Teplice. We found no evidence of serious essential elements deficiencies or excesses in the seniors who participated in this study.

Health behaviors, nutritional status, and anthropometric parameters of Roma and non-Roma mothers and their infants in the Czech Republic.

OBJECTIVE: To compare maternal health behaviors, maternal nutritional status, and infant size at birth of Romas and non-Romas in the Czech Republic. DESIGN: Maternal interviews and food frequency questionnaire, maternal blood samples, physical measurements of mothers and infants. SETTING: Hospital, maternal/child care center; 2-4 days postpartum. PARTICIPANTS: 76 Roma mothers and 151 mothers from the majority population. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Infant length/weight; maternal height/weight; weight gain during pregnancy; duration of pregnancy; maternal smoking habits; dietary intake; use of food supplements during pregnancy; and maternal blood levels of folate, beta-carotene, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol. ANALYSIS: Comparison of ethnic groups by 2-sample Wilcoxon test, chi-square, Fischer's exact test, relative risk, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Pregnancy duration was about 1 week shorter in Roma women (P < .001), and their infants had lower birth weight (P < .001) and shorter length (P < .001). Prevalence of smoking was significantly higher among Roma mothers (P < .001). Roma women used food supplements less frequently than non-Roma women (P < .001) and had significantly lower mean blood concentrations of folate (P < .001), beta-carotene (P < .001), retinol (P < .02), and alpha-tocopherol (P < .02). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The nutritional status of Roma mothers is worse than that of mothers from the majority Czech population. The dietary and smoking habits of pregnant Roma women should be of special concern to family doctors, obstetricians, nutrition educators, and social workers.

Absence of protein-energy malnutrition in Prague homeless.

OBJECTIVE: Define the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in a convenient sample of Prague's homeless population. METHODS: The study was conducted in Prague over an 8 month period during 2003. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements, biochemical and hematological indicators. Of the initial 217 subjects recruited, 201 participated actively. Thirteen percent of the participants were women. One hundred and thirty four participants were interviewed on the premises of Nadeje, a Czech charitable organization; the rest were interviewed in Bulovka University Hospital. RESULTS: Mean BMI values were within the normal range, with only 6 (3%) of the men and 2 (7%) of the women below 18.5kg/m2. Wasted muscle mass was found in only 1 (0.6%) man. Serum protein levels were within normal limits. Lymphocytopenia was reported in 3 (2%) of the men. Results of the CAGE questionnaire gave a strong indication of alcoholism in 24 (12%) and alcoholism in 32 (16%) of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: The data fails to demonstrate the existence of protein-energy malnutrition in Prague's homeless population.