Food insecurity associated with higher COVID-19 infection in households with older adults
| Autor: | Fei Men, Shinae Choi |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Population
Food Supply Odds Environmental health Humans Medicine Social determinants of health education Socioeconomic status older adults Original Research health disparities Aged education.field_of_study SARS-CoV-2 business.industry Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health COVID-19 General Medicine Odds ratio Health and Retirement Study Health equity Food Insecurity Cross-Sectional Studies Respondent business |
| Zdroj: | Public Health |
| ISSN: | 0033-3506 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.09.002 |
| Popis: | Objectives As a well-documented social determinant of health, food insecurity may be associated with COVID-19 infection in households with older adults. We examined whether older adults were vulnerable to COVID-19 infection during the early pandemic if they were food insecure versus food secure. Study design A cross-sectional study using a nationally representative population-based survey of US older adults. Methods We used a random subsample of Health and Retirement Study (HRS) drawn in June 2020 (N = 3212). We compared the odds of reporting COVID-19 infection in a household, COVID-19 infection and mortality among acquaintances, and respondent's perceived fair or poor health across household food insecurity status resulted from financial or non-financial barriers. Baseline health and socioeconomic circumstances were adjusted in the models. Results Results showed a higher COVID-19 infection rate among food-insecure households than among their food-secure counterparts during the pandemic. Food insecurity due to non-financial obstacles was associated with greater likelihood of COVID-19 infection both within respondents’ households (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–2.90) and among their acquaintances (aOR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05–1.65). Food insecurity caused by both non-financial and financial constraints was associated with twice the likelihood of knowing someone who died from COVID-19 than their food-secure counterparts (aOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.27–3.61). Conclusions Food insecurity driven by non-financial constraints played an important role in the ongoing pandemic among US older adults. Policies addressing COVID-19 need to recognize the vulnerability of food-insecure older adults beyond lack of monetary resources. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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