Epidemiological studies have shown deterioration in dental health accompanying the ageing process. Tooth loss increases with age. Chewing ability is closely correlated with number of natural teeth present: there is a threshold of 20–21 teeth, below which chewing ability declines. The government of Israel is currently considering adding dental treatment for elderly to the basket of services of the National Health Insurance Law. Information on the influence of elderly’s dental health on nutrition and general health status can contribute to the decision making process. Secondary analysis of data collected on a subsample (N = 1776) of the cross-sectional Mabat Zahav - National Health and Nutrition Survey of the Elderly was done. Intakes of energy, fiber, protein, fruits and vegetables, associations with dental visits, dentures presence and functional ability were analyzed. Linear regression adjusted for confounders was performed. Statistically significant differences in dietary intake of energy, fiber, protein and vegetables were found between elderly who visited a dentist in the last year and those who did not. Elderly who possessed dentures had lower dietary intakes than their dentate counterparts. Elderly with functional problems such as impaired chewing had worse dietary intakes than the others. This was so after controlling for education, degree of interest in the relationship between nutrition and health and reading the nutrition label. The findings in our study suggest that those who visited a dentist in the last year, had natural teeth and no denture/s and reported no chewing problems had better dietary intake. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining adequate dental health, preserving natural teeth and regular dental visits in the elderly to assure adequate nutrient status in this age group.

Protein consumption apparently plays a role in weight control. This cross-sectional study examined the association of protein consumption in Israeli adolescents with overweight/obesity. 7th–12th grade students participating in a national school-based survey (2015–2016) completed self-administered questionnaires, including a food frequency questionnaire, and height and weight measurements (n = 3443, 48% males, 15.2 ± 1.6 years). WHO growth standards served to define weight status. Intakes of total protein and protein source were calculated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses evaluated associations with overweight/obesity (BMI z-score ≥ 1), adjusting for possible covariates. Total protein intake (median (IQR)) was 62.5 (45.5, 85.7) g/d, accounting for 12.0 (10.5, 13.6) percent of daily energy. Of participants, 31.4% were overweight/obese. In multivariable models, overweight/obesity was positively associated with incremental increases of 10 g/d in total protein intake (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02–1.12, p < 0.01), total animal protein intake (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.10, p = 0.026), and non-dairy animal protein intake (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01–1.11, p = 0.029). No associations were found with plant or dairy protein intake. These associations remained when protein intake was reported as a percentage of daily energy and when overweight and obesity were analyzed individually. High daily protein intakes, principally from non-dairy animal sources, were positively associated with overweight/obesity in adolescents. Additional studies are needed to establish causality of these findings.

Evidence on the association between dialysis facility accessibility and mortality in small countries is limited. This study evaluated the association between travel distance and one- and two-year mortality among Israeli end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Data were obtained from the National Renal Replacement Therapy Registry, encompassing all Israeli ESRD patients aged ≥ 45 years who initiated hemodialysis in 2010–2021. Sociodemographic (age, sex, population group), treatment-related (hospital/community treatment, primary renal disease, incident-year cohort), and geographic (residency socioeconomic and peripherality indices) data were collected. Travel distances from the most recent address to the initial treating facility were categorized into three groups based on the 50th and 90th percentiles, excluding outliers (> 100 km). Adjusted Cox regressions assessed associations between travel distances and mortality, with incident-year cohort-specific models evaluating temporal hazard variations. Analyses included 15,606 patients. The long-distance group (> 26.39 km) was characterized by younger age, Arab ethnicity, peripheral residence, and lower socioeconomic status. Compared to the short-distance group (≤ 6.80 km), the hazard ratios (HRs) in the intermediate-distance group (> 6.80 and ≤ 26.39 km) were 1.216 (1.106–1.337) for one-year and 1.181 (1.093–1.275) for two-year mortality. In the long-distance group, the HRs were 1.718 (1.460–2.021) for one-year and 1.554 (1.351–1.787) for two-year mortality ( P-for-trend between travel distances <.001). Sensitivity and temporal analyses confirmed consistent associations across incident-year cohorts, alternative cut-offs, and outlier inclusion. The association between travel distance and mortality highlights the need to improve geographic accessibility to healthcare to reduce inequities, especially for life-sustaining chronic treatments such as hemodialysis.

Background/Objectives: Evidence on mortality after dialysis modality switch is inconsistent and may vary by timing and type of switch. This study examined associations between modality switch and short- and long-term mortality and compared cause-of-death patterns across groups. Methods: This matched historical cohort study used the Israeli National Renal Replacement Therapy Registry (2010–2022). Adult dialysis patients with a modality switch were matched 1:1 to non-switchers by age, initial modality, and survival to switch time. Follow-up started at the switch date or matched index date. Outcomes were all-cause mortality at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Conditional Cox models estimated adjusted hazard ratios overall, by initial modality, and by early (≤180 days) or late switch. Among 2-year decedents, logistic regressions compared primary and multiple cause-of-death distributions. Results: The cohort included 892 switchers and 892 non-switchers (median age 65.0 years; 66.1% males; 64.2% peritoneal dialysis [PD]-first). Among PD-first late switchers, mortality hazards were lower across follow-up landmarks, with the greatest reduction at 2 years (HR 0.421; 95%CI: 0.306–0.579), whereas hemodialysis (HD)-first early switchers had higher mortality, with borderline significance (HR 1.614; 95%CI: 0.951–2.740). Among 591 deaths within 2 years, primary cause-of-death distributions were similar; for multiple causes, early switchers showed higher adjusted odds of heart disease, whereas late HD-initiated switchers had higher adjusted odds of renal disease. Conclusions: Mortality after modality switch varies by transition direction and timing. Specifically, a late PD-to-HD transition was associated with lower long-term mortality. Further studies are needed to clarify the roles of clinical/transition-related factors.