Inter-linkages among socioeconomic deprivation, food insecurity, physical and psychosocial status in urban geriatric subjects: Varanasi, India

Geriatric subjects are vulnerable to Socio Economic Deprivation (SED), food and nutrition insecurity, poor nutritional status , morbidities, physical dependence, cognitive impairment and depression. Their inter-linkages is a least explored area of research. This aspect has been explored in this study by adopting a cross-sectional study design on 616 geriatric subjects selected by multistage sampling procedure from urban Varanasi, India. Pre-designed, pre-tested proforma and appropriate tools and standard techniques were used for assessing socioeconomic deprivation, food insecurity, nutritional status, morbidities, functional and psychological status of subjects. In order to find out inter-linkages, all significant variables in univariate analysis were subjected to logistic regression model. In logistic regression analysis higher odds of severe (AOR 14.98; 95% CI 5.62–39.96) and moderate (7.89; 95%CI 4.19–14.86) food insecurity at household level prevailed in subjects with SED. Besides Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) (2.18; 95% CI 1.32–3.60), moderate/severe depression (5.06; 95% CI 2.02–12.66) has been linked with household food insecurity. Higher odds for moderate and severe (2.45; 95% CI 1.13–5.34) and mild (1.75; 95% CI 1.08–2.82) depression were identified in CED victims. There existed a significant linkage between presence of morbidity and assisted as well as severe physical dependency. Higher adjusted odds (2.37; 95% CI 1.54–3.65) for depression prevailed in subjects with physical dependency. Policy shift from socio economic upliftment to food security and sensitivities of families and community for geriatric care in illness and physical dependency are required for wellbeing of geriatric subjects.