(P23-065-23) Trend of Change in Diet Quality Score of Iranian Free-Living Elderly and Its Association With a Body Shape Index: A Longitudinal Study (2017–2021)

Objectives: To define the trend of change in diet quality (score of revised Healthy Diet Indicator [HDIr]) of Iranian free-living elderlies and its association with A Body Shape Index in four years (2017-2021)

Methods: This longitudinal study that was conducted on 368 elderly people (164 men and 204 women) living in Tehran in two phases(2017 and 2021). In the first phase (2017), 523 samples were selected and in the second phase(2021), they were re-invited to the study, but only 375 subjects accepted to participate in the second phase. General information, dietary intake (two 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires) was assessed by face-to-face interview and weight, height and WC was measured by standard method and ABSI was calculated. Energy and nutrients profile was obtained by Nutritionist 4 software. HDIr was calculated to evaluate the quality of diet. The data were analyzed in R software and the mixed effect model analysis was applied to estimate the association between HDIr and ABSI in the 4 years period. P< 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Higher percentage of the elderly were in the least category of HDIr (≤4) in both years. Based on the ABSI, higher percents of males were abdominally obese than female, in both time points. Across the components of HDIr score, higher percents of old adults were in the optimal range of protein, complex carbohydrates, simple sugar, PUFA and cholesterol intake and lower percents of subjects were in appropriate range of fruit and vegetable intake in 2021 compared to the baseline year. After controlling for confounders, there was an inverse relationship between the total score of HDIr and ABSI (B = -0.00027; SE = 0.00013) and the interactive effect of year × HDIrwas also significant (B = 0.00022; SE = 0.00017).

Conclusions: Findings showed that although the diet quality of the studied elderly was poor in both studied years, it was improved based on the most components of HDIr in 2020 than 2017. This means that, the elderly paid more attention to their diet status by increasing their age. Lower score for fruit and vegetables may be attributed to the increased price of these items due to economic sanction. Higher diet quality based of the HDIr score was related with lower score ABSI as an indicator of mortality during the four studied years and should be addressed in nutritional interventions.

Funding Sources: National nutrition and food technology institute of Iran