Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2022 | Obesity | Research
Obesity may increase survival, regardless of nutritional status: a Swedish cohort study in nursing homes
Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2022
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Background
To investigate the associations between the body mass index (BMI), Mini Nutritional Assessment–Short Form (MNA-SF) scores, and 2-year mortality.
Methods
A nationwide cohort study using data from a national quality register of older (age ≥ 65 years) nursing home residents (N = 47,686). Individuals were categorized according to BMI as underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal-weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2), and obese (class I, 30.0–34.9 kg/m2; class II, 35.0–39.9 kg/m2; class III, ≥ 40.0 kg/m2). Participants’ nutritional status were categorized as good (MNA-SF score 12–14), at risk of malnutrition (MNA-SF score 8–11), or malnutrition (MNA-SF score 0–7). Associations with mortality were analysed using Cox proportional-hazards models.
Results
At baseline, 16.0% had obesity, and 14.6% were malnourished. During 2 years of follow-up, 23,335 (48.9%) individuals died. Compared with normal-weight individuals, mortality was greater among underweight individuals [hazard ratio (HR) 1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.55–1.69] and lesser among individuals with class I (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.60–0.66), class II (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.56–0.68), and class III (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.69–0.94) obesity. Compared with individuals with good nutritional status, mortality was increased for those with malnutrition (HR 2.98,95% CI 2.87–3.10). Lower mortality among obese individuals was also seen in subgroups defined according to MNA-SF scores.
Conclusions
Among older nursing home residents, obesity, including severe obesity, was associated with lower 2-year mortality. Higher BMIs were associated with better survival, regardless of nutritional status according to MNA-SF.