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BMC Geriatrics
Published in: BMC Geriatrics 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Dysphagia risk, low muscle strength and poor cognition predict malnutrition risk in older adults at hospital admission

Authors: Idah Chatindiara, Jacqueline Allen, Amy Popman, Darshan Patel, Marilize Richter, Marlena Kruger, Carol Wham

Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Malnutrition in patients admitted to hospital may have detrimental effects on recovery and healing. Malnutrition is preceded by a state of malnutrition risk, yet malnutrition risk is often not detected during admission. The aim of the current study was to investigate the magnitude and potential predictors of malnutrition risk in older adults, at hospital admission.

Methods

A cross-sectional was study conducted in 234 older adults (age ≥ 65 or ≥ 55 for Māori or Pacific ethnicity) at admission to hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. Assessment of malnutrition risk status was performed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA®-SF), dysphagia risk by the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), muscle strength by hand grip strength and cognitive status by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool.

Results

Among 234 participants, mean age 83.6 ± 7.6 years, 46.6% were identified as at malnutrition risk and 26.9% malnourished. After adjusting for age, gender and ethnicity, the study identified [prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval)] high dysphagia risk [EAT-10 score: 0.98 (0.97–0.99)], low body mass index [kg/m2: 1.02 (1.02–1.03)], low muscle strength [hand grip strength, kg: 1.01 (1.00–1.02)] and decline in cognition [MoCA score: 1.01 (1.00–1.02)] as significant predictors of malnutrition risk in older adults at hospital admission.

Conclusion

Among older adults recently admitted to the hospital, almost three-quarters were malnourished or at malnutrition risk. As the majority (88%) of participants were admitted from the community, this illustrates the need for routine nutrition screening both at hospital admission and in community-dwelling older adults. Factors such as dysphagia, unintentional weight loss, decline in muscle strength, and poor cognition may indicate increased risk of malnutrition.
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Metadata
Title
Dysphagia risk, low muscle strength and poor cognition predict malnutrition risk in older adults at hospital admission
Authors
Idah Chatindiara
Jacqueline Allen
Amy Popman
Darshan Patel
Marilize Richter
Marlena Kruger
Carol Wham
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Geriatrics / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2318
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-018-0771-x

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