Mini nutritional assessment short-form (MNA-SF) predicts institutionalisation in an intermediate post-acute care setting

Objectives

The aim of the study was to investigate whether nutritional status as measured by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) predicts level of care of the discharge destination after post-acute care in a nursing home.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

Post-acute intermediate care nursing home, 19-bed unit with increased multidisciplinary staff.

Participants

Patients ≥70 years in post-acute care (N=900) following an acute admission to the hospital.

Measurements

The predictive value of nutritional status, as measured by the MNA-SF, on discharge destination was analysed by means of a multinomial logistic regression model with the MNA-SF as the independent variable, discharge destination as the dependent variable and age and living situation as co-variates. The participants were grouped into three categories according to their discharge destination: home, other institution or readmitted to the hospital.

Results

A higher score on the MNA-SF significantly predicted a reduced risk of discharge to institution (adjusted OR=0.90 (95% CI=0.84;0.97), p=0.003).

Conclusion

Nutritional status, as measured by the MNA-SF, predicted discharge destination from an intermediate care nursing home following acute hospitalisation. The findings underscore the value of nutritional assessment as part of overall clinical assessment and care planning prior to discharge. The findings may also imply that interventions to improve nutritional status could increase patients’ ability to return home, as opposed to further institutionalisation, after hospitalisation.

     

Impact of Home-Delivered Meals on Nutrition Status and Nutrient Intake among Older Adults in Central Texas

Objective

This study aimed to measure changes in nutrition risk and nutrient intake after older adults received home-delivered meals (HDM) for 3 months.

Design

This study used a pre-posttest study design, with data collected before and after 3 months of HDM services.

Setting

Two HDM programs that serve the metropolitan areas of Austin and San Antonio, Texas.

Participants

Study participants were aged 60 years or older, without dementia or terminal illness, and receiving HDM in Austin, Texas and San Antonio, Texas for 3 months.

Measurements

The Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) and Mini Nutrition Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) were used to assess nutritional risk. The National Cancer Institute Diet History Questionnaire II (DHQ II) was used to assess nutrient intake over the past month.

Results

After receiving 3 months of HDM, nutrition status significantly improved as measured by the NSI and MNA-SF. More participants met or exceeded the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for magnesium and zinc after receiving HDM compared to before receiving HDM. Dietary supplement intake was associated with a higher nutritional risk.

Conclusion

Improvements in nutrition status were found after 3 months of receiving HDM, whereas intake of most nutrients did not change significantly. Results of this study provide further evidence that HDM can reduce nutritional risk of older adults, and may inform HDM programs on the differences of NSI and/or MNA-SF to assess nutritional risk of clients.

     

Occlusal Support,Dysphagia, Malnutrition,and Activities of Daily Living in Aged Individuals Needing Long-Term Care: A Path Analysis

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the interrelationships among occlusal support, dysphagia, malnutrition, and activities of daily living in aged individuals needing long-term care.

Design

Cross-sectional study and path analysis.

Setting

Long-term health care facilities, acute care hospitals, and the community.

Participants

Three hundred and fifty-four individuals aged ≥ 65 years with dysphagia or potential dysphagia in need of long-term care.

Measurements

The modified Eichner Index, Dysphagia Severity Scale, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form, and Barthel index.

Results

The participants included 118 males and 236 females with a mean (standard deviation) age of 83 (8) years. A total of 216 participants had functional occlusal support with or without dentures. Of the total participants, 73 were within normal limits regarding the severity of dysphagia, 119 exhibited dysphagia without aspiration, and 162 exhibited dysphagia with aspiration. Only 34 had a normal nutritional status, while 166 participants were malnourished, and 154 were at risk of malnutrition. The median Barthel index score was 30. Path analysis indicated two important findings: occlusal support had a direct effect on dysphagia (standard coefficient = 0.33), and dysphagia was associated directly with malnutrition (standard coefficient = 0.50). Dysphagia and malnutrition were associated directly with impaired activities of daily living (standard coefficient = 0.57, 0.22).

Conclusion

In aged individuals needing long-term care, occlusal support is associated directly with dysphagia and indirectly with malnutrition and activities of daily living via dysphagia.

     

Mini Nutritional Assessment short-form: Validation in five Latin American cities. SABE study

Objectives

To validate the short-form of the MNA (MNA-SF) and the cut-off point of 31 cm for calf circumference (CC) in older people in Latin America.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 5,722 community-dwelling older subjects (range: 60-102 years) in Latin America’s five main cities: Sao Paulo (Brazil), Santiago (Chile), Havana (Cuba), Mexico DF (Mexico) and Montevideo (Uruguay). All participants underwent an interview, which included anthropometric measurements, completing the MNA and obtaining socio-demographic, nutrition and health information. The short-form of the MNA consists of only six questions from the original 18. It has two versions: one using body mass index (BMI) and the second using CC as a surrogate. Cohen’s Kappa was calculated to assess the agreement between the MNA and the MNA-SF; diagnostic tests were performed, and Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were developed. Criterion-related validity was assessed in the Chilean sample.

Results

Both version of the MNA-SF showed high sensitivity and specificity with the MNA, showing good accuracy (0.88), although higher values were estimated for malnutrition and risk of malnutrition in the total sample by sex. The cut-off point of 31 cm for CC showed high sensitivity (74.6-94.4%), specificity (72.6-100%) and good area under the ROC curve (0.87-0.95) when compared with BMI. There was good agreement between MNA and both version of MNA-SF for identifying persons with malnutrition or a risk of malnutrition in the five cities (Kappa coefficient: 0.6193-0.7852).

Conclusion

Both versions of the MNA-SF are population-screening tools of easy and fast application, with good accuracy for assessing malnutrition and risk of malnutrition in Latin American older people.

     

Is it possible using handgrip strength instead of body mass index in MNA-SF test to assess the nutritional status of geriatric patients?

Introduction

In Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) test, a practical and reliable alternative parameter is still necessary for patients with difficult body mass index evaluation. We aimed to show whether or not handgrip strength may be used instead of body mass index (BMI) in MNA-SF test.

Materials and Methods

MNA-SF test scores, calf circumferences (CC), handgrip strength (HGS), and BMI of 191 patients were evaluated. The first one of calculated MNA-SF tests was with BMI, the second one with CC, and the last one with HGS. Zero point was given if CC was <31 cm and 3 points were given if CC was ≥31 cm. Zero, 1, 2, and 3 points were given if the loss of HGS when compared to expected HGS were ≥%60, from ≥%30 to <%60, from ≥%10 to <%30, and <%10 or greater than expected HGS, respectively. MNA-SF scores and nutritional status according to these three measures were compared.

Results

Mean age and median MNA-SF scores of the patients were 75±7.6 years and 12 points (min-max: 0-14) respectively. There were strongly positive correlations between MNA-SF scores with BMI and CC, with BMI and HGS, and with CC and HGS (r=0.938 p<0.001, r=0.938 p<0.001, r=0.914 p<0.001, respectively). Substantial agreement in nutritional status of the patients were seen between MNA-SF groups with BMI and CC, with CC and HGS, and with BMI and HGS (kappa: 0.795 p<0.001, kappa: 0.709 p<0.001, and kappa: 0.760 p<0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

HGS might be considered instead of BMI in MNA-SF test to assess nutritional status of geriatric patients.

     

Determinants of Health Related Quality of Life in Home Dwelling Elderly Population: Appetite and Nutritional Status

Objective

The present study aimed to examine nutritional risk factors such as poor appetite, malnutrition or obesity affecting health related quality of life in elderly.

Design and participants

This is a cross-sectional population-based study consisted of 407 elderly (142 men and 265 women) mean aged 71.7±6.54 years.

Measurements

Questionnaire including the demographic and general characteristics, health information, nutritional habits was performed by face-to-face interviews. Daily food consumption was assessed using 24-hour dietary recall. Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA) and Mini Nutrition Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) were used for assessment of nutrition status. Appetite was evaluated using the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ). Health related life quality scale (Short Form Health Survey-SF36) was used for evalution health related quality of life.

Results

According to MNA and MNA-SF 6.1%; 4.2% of elderly people were malnutrition and 40.3%; 21.9% of them were at risk of malnutrition respectively. Accordingly, SNAQ 28.7% of elderly were risk at loss of weight. Health related quality of life scores of women were significantly lower than men. Good nutritional (MNA-SF) and good appetite (SNAQ) status, increased 1.69, 1.48 fold in the mental component summary scale scores respectively. SNAQ was the best determinant of physical component summary scale score had the greatest positive effect, good appetite status increased approximately 2.2 fold in physical scores. Polypharmacy and high BMI decreased health related quality of life in elderly.

Conclusion

Determinants of quality of life are preventable and treatable with early and appropriate interventions in elderly.

     

Association of grip strength,upper arm circumference,and waist circumference with dementia in older adults of the wise study: A cross-sectional analysis

Objective

We examined the associations of handgrip strength, upper arm circumference, and waist circumference with dementia among Singapore older adults.

Design

Cross-sectional epidemiological study.

Setting

Residential homes, day care centres, nursing homes and institutions.

Participants

2,565 men and women aged 60 years and above who participated in the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study in 2013.

Measurements

Socio-demographic correlates, dietary habits, health behaviours, grip strength, upper arm circumference, and waist circumference were collected. Grip strength was measured using a hand dynamometer with the dominant hand. Upper arm circumference was measured using a measuring tape around the thickest part of the upper arm while waist circumference measured in centimetres was measured at the narrowest part of the body between the chest and hips for women, and measured at the level of the umbilicus for men. Dementia was diagnosed using the 10/66 dementia diagnostic criteria.

Results

Mean grip strength was 13.07 kg (SE=0.60) for people with dementia and 21.98 kg (SE=0.26) for people without dementia. After adjusting for all factors, grip strength remained significantly associated with dementia (p <0.0001). Upper arm circumference was associated with dementia (p <0.0001) but this association was only significant in the univariate analysis. Waist circumference was not significantly associated with dementia.

Conclusions

Lower grip strength was independently associated with dementia in the older adult population in Singapore. Further research needs to be done to ascertain whether this association exists for specific types of dementia and look into the relationship of other anthropometric measurements with dementia in Singapore.

     

Screening for malnutrition in community dwelling older Japanese: Preliminary development and evaluation of the Japanese Nutritional Risk Screening Tool (NRST)

Background

Early and effective screening for age-related malnutrition is an essential part of providing optimal nutritional care to older populations.

Objective

This study was performed to evaluate the adaptation of the original SCREEN II questionnaire (Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition, version II) for use in Japan by examining its measurement properties and ability to predict nutritional risk and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Japanese people. The ultimate objective of this preliminary validation study is to develop a license granted full Japanese version of the SCREEN II.

Participants

The measurement properties and predictive validity of the NRST were examined in this cross-sectional study of 1921 community-dwelling older Japanese people.

Measurements

Assessments included medical history, and anthropometric and serum albumin measurements. Questions on dietary habits that corresponded to the original SCREEN II were applied to Nutritional Risk Screening Tool (NRST) scoring system. Nutritional risk was assessed by the Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index (GNRI) and the short form of the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF). Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People.

Results

The nutritional risk prevalences determined by the GNRI and MNA-SF were 5.6% and 34.7%, respectively. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 13.3%. Mean NRST scores were significantly lower in the nutritionally at-risk than in the well-nourished groups. Concurrent validity analysis showed significant correlations between NRST scores and both nutritional risk parameters (GNRI or MNA-SF) and sarcopenia. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of NRST for the prediction of nutritional risk were 0.635 and 0.584 as assessed by GNRI and MNA-SF, respectively. AUCs for the prediction of sarcopenia were 0.602 (NRST), 0.655 (age-integrated NRST), and 0.676 (age and BMI-integrated NRST).

Conclusions

These results indicate that the NRST is a promising screening tool for the prediction of malnutrition and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Japanese people. Further development of a full Japanese version of the SCREEN II is indicated.

     

Malnutrition in very old hospitalized patients: A new etiologic factor of anemia?

Background

Anemia and malnutrition are highly prevalent, frequently concomitant and associated with negative outcomes and mortality in the elderly.

Objectives

To evaluate the association between these two entities, and test the hypothesis that protein-energy deficit could be etiology of anemia.

Design

Prospective case-control study. Setting: Geriatric and Rehabilitation Hospital, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland.

Participants

392 patients (mean age 84.8 years old, 68.6% female).

Main outcome measures

Hematological (hemoglobin (Hb)), chemical (iron work up, cyanocobalamin, folates, renal function, C-Reactive Protein (CRP)) and nutrition (albumin, prealbumin) parameters, and mini nutritional assessment short form (MNA-SF).

Results

The prevalence of anemia (defined as Hb<120 g/l) was 39.3%. Anemic patients were more frequently malnourished or at risk of malnutrition according to the MNA-SF (p=0.047), with lower serum albumin (p <0.001) and prealbumin (p <0.001) levels. Thirty-eight percent of these patients had multiple causes and 14.3% had no cause found for anemia. Among the latter 90.9% of patients with unexplained anemia had albumin levels lower than 35g/l. After exclusion of iron,vitamin B12 and folic acid deficits, anemic patients had lower albumin (p<0.001) and prealbumin (p 0.007) levels. Albumin level explained 84.5% of the variance in anemia. In multivariate analysis albumin levels remain associated with Hb only in anemic patients, explaining 6.4% of Hb variance (adj R2) and 14.7% (adj R2) after excluding inflammatory parameters (CRP>10).

Conclusions

Albumin levels are strongly associated with anemia in the elderly. Screening for undernutrition should be included in anemia assessment in those patients. Further prospective studies are warranted in order to explore the effect of protein and energy supplementation on hemoglobin level.

     

Effect of a Minimal-Massive Intervention in Hospitalized Older Patients with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: A Proof of Concept Study

Background

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a newly defined geriatric syndrome that causes nutritional and respiratory complications in older hospitalized patients. Following hospital discharge, OD also causes hospital readmission and mortality in this population.

Objective

Our aim was to assess the effect of a minimal-massive intervention (MMI) in reducing nutritional and respiratory complications in older hospitalized patients with OD.

Design and participants

An open label trial was performed on 186 hospitalized older patients (>70y) with OD; 62 of these patients with OD were treated with the MMI and paired by sex, age, functionality, comorbidities and body mass index with two controls.

Intervention

The MMI consisted of: a) fluid thickening and texture-modified foods, b) caloric and protein supplementation; and c) oral health and hygiene recommendations during hospitalization and following discharge. The control group followed the standard clinical practice without MMI.

Measurements

Main study outcomes were hospital readmissions, respiratory infections, nutritional status and survival after 6 months follow up.

Results

Both groups had similar advanced age (84.87±6.02MMI and 84.42±5.31 years), poor functionality (Barthel 59.51±26.76 MMI and 58.84±26.87), and high comorbidities (Charlson 3.00±1.60 MMI and 3.06±1.45). Main results showed that MMI improved nutritional status (MNA 9.84±2.05 pre-MMI vs. 11.31±2.21 post-MMI; p=0.0038) and functionality (Barthel 62.34±25.43 pre-MMI vs. 73.44±25.19 post-MMI; p=0.007). In addition MMI decreased hospital readmissions (68.8 readmissions/100 persons-year (28.1–109.38) MMI vs. 190.8 (156.0–225.7); p=0.001), respiratory infections (12.50 readmissions/100 persons-year (0–29.82) MMI vs. 74.68 (52.86–96.50); p=0.002), and increased 6-month survival (84.13% MMI vs. 70.96%; p=0.044).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that a MMI in hospitalized older patients with OD improves nutritional status and functionality and reduces hospital readmissions, respiratory infections and mortality. MMI might become a new simple and cost-effective strategy to avoid OD complications in the geriatric population admitted with an acute disease to a general hospital.

     

Nutritional Status and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Korean Adults: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study

Objectives

To examine the association between nutritional status and frailty in older adults.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Community-dwelling older adults were recruited from 10 study sites in South Korea.

Participants

1473 volunteers aged 70–84 years without severe cognitive impairment and who participated in the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS) conducted in 2016.

Measurements

Nutritional status was measured using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF). Frailty was assessed with the Fried’s frailty index. The relationship between nutritional status and frailty was examined using the multinomial regression analysis, adjusting for covariates.

Results

Of the respondents 14.3% had poor nutrition (0.8% with malnutrition, 13.5% at risk of malnutrition). There were 10.7% who were frail, with 48.5% being prefrail, and 40.8% robust. Poor nutrition was related to a significantly increased risk of being prefrail (odds ratio [OR]: 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–2.32) and frail (OR: 3.30, 95% CI: 1.96–5.54).

Conclusion

Poor nutritional status is strongly associated with frailty in older adults. More research to understand the interdependency between nutritional status and frailty may lead to better management of the two geriatric conditions.

     

Association of long-term dietary fat intake,exercise, and weight with later cognitive function in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study

Objectives

To investigate associations of long-term nutrient intake, physical activity and obesity with later cognitive function among the participants in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, in which a lifestyle intervention was successful in diabetes prevention.

Design

An active lifestyle intervention phase during middle age (mean duration 4 years) and extended follow-up (additional 9 years) with annual lifestyle measurements, followed by an ancillary cognition assessment.

Setting

5 research centers in Finland.

Participants

Of the 522 middle-aged, overweight participants with impaired glucose tolerance recruited to the study, 364 (70%) participated in the cognition assessment (mean age 68 years).

Measurements

A cognitive assessment was executed with the CERAD test battery and the Trail Making Test A on average 13 years after baseline. Lifestyle measurements included annual clinical measurements, food records, and exercise questionnaires during both the intervention and follow-up phase.

Results

Lower intake of total fat (p=0.021) and saturated fatty acids (p=0.010), and frequent physical activity (p=0.040) during the whole study period were associated with better cognitive performance. Higher BMI (p=0.012) and waist circumference (p=0.012) were also associated with worse performance, but weight reduction prior to the cognition assessment predicted worse performance as well (decrease vs. increase, p=0.008 for BMI and p=0.002 for waist).

Conclusions

Long-term dietary fat intake, BMI, and waist circumference have an inverse association with cognitive function in later life among people with IGT. However, decreases in BMI and waist prior to cognitive assessment are associated with worse cognitive performance, which could be explained by reverse causality.

     

Pharyngeal residue and aspiration and the relationship with clinical/nutritional status of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia submitted to videofluoroscopy

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the videofluoroscopic (VFS) signs of impaired efficacy (pharyngeal residue) and safety (aspiration) swallowing and the clinical/nutritional status of patients with suspect of dysphagia.

Design

A cross-sectional study was conducted with patients submitted to videofluoroscopy.

Setting and Participants

Data of 76 patients were analyzed between March 2011 and December 2014.

Measurements

The clinical history and VFS exams of patients ≥ 38 years were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

88% patients presented Oropharyngeal Dysphagia (OD), 44.7% presented laryngeal penetration and 32% presented aspiration. 78% patients presented pharyngeal residue. Aspiration was associated with Head Neck Cancer (HNC) [Prevalence Ratio (PR): 2.27, p = 0.028] and cardiovascular disease (PR 1.96, p = 0.027). Underweight [Body Mass Index < 18.5 kg/m²] was not associated with the presence of aspiration. Underweight patients with OD had a higher prevalence rate of pharyngeal residue than those normally nourished (100% vs. 78%) (PR 1.34, p = 0.011). Pharyngeal residue was associated with male sex (PR 1.32, p = 0.040), neurodegenerative disease (PR 1.57, p = 0.021), stroke (PR 1.62, p = 0.009), cerebral palsy (PR 1.76, p = 0.006) and HNC (PR 1.73, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

In the present study, neurologic diseases, HNC, male sex and underweight were associated to impaired swallowing efficacy. Underweight, independently of the other variables, was not associated with impaired swallowing safety.

     

Effects of nutritional supplements on muscle mass and activities of daily living in elderly rehabilitation patients with decreased muscle mass: A randomized controlled trial

Objective

To investigate the effects of nutritional intervention with resistance training on skeletal muscle mass in elderly patients with disabilities in a convalescent rehabilitation setting.

Design

A randomized controlled trial. (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry ID: UMIN000006238).

Setting

A rehabilitation hospital.

Participants

39 elderly patients with decreased skeletal muscle mass in an inpatient convalescence rehabilitation unit.

Interventions

A combination of resistance training plus nutritional supplementation (R/N group) or resistance training alone (R group). The training and supplementation were conducted essentially from the patient’s admission to discharge (2–6 months).

Outcome Measures

The patients were evaluated at the time of admission and at the end of the intervention for skeletal muscle mass (calf circumference [CC] as a primary outcome, and arm circumference [AC]), hand grip strength (HG), Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA®-SF) score, serum albumin level (Alb), body mass index (BMI), and activities of daily living (ADL) as represented by the Barthel Index (BI) score.

Results

Significant treatment effects were seen for CC, AC, BI, Alb in the R/N group compared to the R group. A mean treatment effect of 3.2 (95%CI: 2.0–4.4) was seen in CC, 1.4 (95%CI: 0.8–2.1) was seen in AC, 11.2 (95%CI: 0.5–21.8) was seen in BI, 0.3 (95%CI: 0.1–0.5) was seen in Alb.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that nutritional intervention added to resistance training during convalescent rehabilitation may improve skeletal muscle mass and activities of daily living.

     

Overweight and abdominal obesity association with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the elderly aged 80 and over: A cohort study

Objective

To evaluate the association between overweight and abdominal obesity with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the elderly aged 80 and over.

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

A population-based study of community-dwelling very elderly adults in a city in southern Brazil.

Participants

236 very elderly adults, number that represents 85% of the population aged 80 and over living in the city in the period (mean age 83.4 ± 3.2).

Measurements

Overweight and abdominal obesity were assessed using recommended cut-off points for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR). The association between these anthropometric measurements and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were independently estimated by Cox proportional hazards model. Kaplan-Meier was used to assess survival time.

Results

Increased WC (>80cm F and >94cm M) and WHtR (>0.53 F and >0.52 M) were associated with lower all-cause mortality, but only WHtR remained associated even after controlling for residual confounding (HR 0.55 CI95% 0.36-0.84; p<0.001). Additionally increased WC was independently associated with lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases (HR 0.57 CI95% 0.34-0.95; p<0.030). BMI and WHR did not show significant independent association with mortality in the main analysis.

Conclusion

Greater abdominal fat accumulation, as estimated by WC and WHtR, presented an association with lower allcause and cardiovascular mortality in the elderly aged 80 and over, but not by BMI and WHR.

     

Dysphagia in Hospitalized Older Patients: Associated Factors and Nutritional Interventions

Objectives

To (1) assess the association between dysphagia and malnutrition as well as other related factors and (2) investigate the nutritional interventions that are initiated in dysphagic older patients.

Design

Cross-sectional, multi-center point prevalence measurement.

Setting

53 Austrian hospitals.

Participants

3174 hospitalized patients, 65 years or older.

Measurements

A standardized and tested questionnaire was used for the data collection, which was based on both inspections of the patients and information documented in the patient chart. Medical diagnoses were assessed by referring to the International Classification of Diseases. Dysphagia was measured by asking the patient a dichotomous question. Several other data points were collected including: gender, age, number of diseases, malnutrition, care dependency scale (CDS) score and dependency during activities of daily living (ADL). To investigate the associations between dysphagia and malnutrition and other associated factors, cross tabulation, chi-squared test, t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used.

Results

The prevalence of dysphagia among these patients was 7.6%. Dysphagia and malnutrition were significantly associated (< 0.001). Patients with dysphagia had statistically significant lower BMI values (p = 0.01), more medical diagnoses (p = 0.003) and were more care dependent (p < 0.001) than patients who did not suffer from dysphagia. The frequency of underlying respiratory diseases, dementia, nervous system disorders and cerebrovascular accidents also differed significantly between dysphagic and non-dysphagic patients. The following nutritional interventions were most frequently initiated in patients with dysphagia: provision of texturemodified food/fluid (32.2%), referral to a dietitian (31.4%), provision of an energy- and/or protein-enriched diet (27.3%), monitoring of nutritional intake (21.5%), enteral nutrition (19.4%) and provision of energy-enriched snacks (15.7%). 24% of patients received no nutritional interventions.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that a very strong association exists between dysphagia and malnutrition as well as high levels of care dependency and dependency in activities of daily living. Nearly one-quarter of the patients did not receive any nutritional intervention. Therefore, a potential for the improvement of nutritional therapy in older dysphagic hospitalized patients still exists.

     

Malnutrition and laboratory markers in geriatric patients. A comparison of neurologic-psychiatric,internal and trauma surgical diseases

Objectives

There is minimal information on malnutrition in neurologic-psychiatric patients compared to internal and trauma-surgical patients. The aim of the present study was to explore if there is a correlation of these different disease groups with the nutritional assessment and biochemical markers.

Design

Cross - sectional study.

Setting and Participants

The study was done in a department of geriatric medicine with subspecialisation in neurologic diseases and stroke unit. 338 patients (m / f = 136 / 202, mean age 81.4 ± 7.3 years) were evaluated.

Measurements

The nutritional status was evaluated by using the short form of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF) and seven biochemical markers (hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, vitamin B 12, folic acid, albumin and cholinesterase) were measured.

Results

There were 74 (22%) patients with MNA ≤ 7 points (malnutrition), 148 (44%) patients with an MNA 8 - 11 points (risk of malnutrition) and 116 (34%) patients with an MNA ≥ 12 points (good nutritional status). The mean MNA score of the three major disease groups trauma-surgery, internal medicine and neurology-psychiatry was 9.1 ± 3.2 vs. 9.9 ± 3.1 vs. 10.0 ± 2.8 (p=0.236). There were significant differences of laboratory markers between the disease groups. A deficit of albumin, cholinesterase and hemoglobin was found more often in trauma-surgical and internal patients than in neurological-psychiatric patients (albumin: 21.4%, 15.7%, 5.3%; p=0.001; cholinesterase 16.7%, 16.9%, 6.3%; p=0.007; hemoglobin 78.6%, 61.4%, 50.0%; p=0.002).

Conclusions

Following Mini Nutritional Assessment, the additional measurement of albumin, cholinesterase and hemoglobin allowed a more precise grading of malnutrition. There were significant differences between the disease groups. A deficit of albumin, cholinesterase and hemoglobin was found more often in multimorbid trauma-surgical and internal patients than in neurologic-psychiatric patients.

     

Association between the Mediterranean-style dietary pattern score and physical performance: Results from TRELONG study

Objectives

To determine the association between Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern Score and physical performance.

Design

Data analysis of a longitudinal study of a representative, age stratified, population sample.

Setting

The TREVISO LONGEVA (TRELONG) Study, in Treviso, Italy.

Participants

In 2010, 123 men and 181 women, age 77 years and over (mean age 86.3 ± 6.8 years).

Measurements

Performing a logistic regression in a multivariate analysis, hand grip strength and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were tested in relation to Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern Score (MSDPS).

Results

The hand grip mean value was 10.9 kg (± 9.5) and the SPPB score was 6.3 (± 3.8). The MSDPS mean value in this study sample was 38.1/100 (± 8.1). A significant association (p=0.036) between a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet (fourth quartile) and higher performance lower limbs (SPPB>7) was found. No correlation was reported for the hand grip strength.

Conclusion

We found an association statistically significant between a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet and higher physical performance.