2Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Faculty of Health Science, Department of Nursing, Balikesir, Turkey
3S.B.Ü. Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Nursing, İzmir, Turkey DOI : 10.31086/tjgeri.2022.319 Objective: To examine the adherence of older people diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to the Mediterranean diet and its relationship with frailty.
Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study included 446 people aged 65 and over who were hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations. Disease staging with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease system, Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea intensities, Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener, and Tilburg Frailty Index.
Results: All older people in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation period were frail. A mild, negative relationship was found between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and frailty levels (r= -0.267; p<0.001). Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener explained 6.9% of frailty alone (adjusted R2 = 0.069, p<0.001) and 11.9% of frailty together with disease stage (adjusted R2 = 0.119, p<0.001).
Conclusions: These findings support the suggestion that a nutrition model based on the Mediterranean diet plays an important role in the management of frailty in older people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. High adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower dyspnea and disease severity in older people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and may help reduce frailty.
Keywords : Diet, Mediterranean; Frailty; Geriatrics; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive