Abstract
The purpose of this study was to consider the biochemical findings such as albumin, weight and age by two-way layout analysis of variance and post hoc with feeding independence based on the FIM (functional independence measure) and gender as contributing factors. The subjects were chronically hospitalized elderly people (40 men, 61 women, age 82 ± 11) who could feed orally. Significant values of total cholesterol (p<0.01), albumin (p<0.001) and weight (p<0.005) were found in feeding independence. From the result that albumin in particular, showed a significantly lower value (p<0.05) in accordance with a lower level of feeding independence, we suggests that nutrition support for cases with lower level of feeding independence is needed. In the comparison of gender differences, women were older than men (p<0.005) and had lower albumin (p<0.05) and lower weight (p<0.0001), suggesting a need for more attention to their condition of nutrition.
