Malnutrition and its risk factors in a home for seniors in Shanghai

• Published in: Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 63 - 69
• Main Authors: Sun, Jianqin, Yuan, Wuke, Chen, Min, Chen, Yanqiu, Chen, Jie, Xu, Danfeng, Li, Zhen, Bai, Huijing, Xu, Qi, Jiang, Yuanrong, Gu, Jie, Li, Shengqi, Su, Chenxi, Gu, Lili, Fang, Jiaxin, Zhu, Xinyao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Clayton, Vic HEC Press 01-03-2023
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; China - epidemiology; Chronic diseases; Chronic illnesses; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dietary supplements; Evaluation; Female; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Hand Strength; Humans; Male; Malnutrition; Malnutrition - epidemiology; Nursing care; Nutrition; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional aspects; Nutritional Status; Older people; Risk Factors; Sarcopenia - epidemiology; Womens health; China; older adult; malnutrition; nutritional status; chronic disease; senior home
• ISSN: 0964-7058; 1440-6047
• DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.202303_32(1).0010

Background and Objectives: Older adults residing in senior homes are at a high risk of malnutrition. In this study, we investigated the nutritional status of these individuals and factors associated with malnutrition in this population. Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study (September 2020-January 2021) included a total of 583 older adults residing in a senior home in Shanghai (mean age, 85.0+-6.6 years). The Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) questionnaire was administered to assess the nutritional status of the participants. Patients with possible sarcopenia were identified according to the guidelines recommended by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in its 2019 consensus (AWGS 2019). Moreover, the factors influencing malnutrition were determined through multivariate analyses. Results: The likelihoods of having malnutrition and being at a risk of malnutrition were noted in 10.5% and 37.4% of the participants, respectively. In both male and female participants, handgrip strength (HGS) and calf circumference (CC) increased significantly with increasing scores on the aforementioned questionnaire (p<0.001). Among the participants, 44.6% had >=3 chronic diseases and 48.2% used multiple medicines. Multivariate analyses revealed that dysphagia (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.7-8.5), possible sarcopenia (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 2.2-5.6), and dementia (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.8-7.0) were correlated with a relatively high prevalence of malnutrition/malnutrition risk. Exercise (at least thrice a week) reduced malnutrition risk. Conclusions: Malnutrition is common among older adults residing in senior homes; therefore, the associated factors must be identified, and appropriate interventions should be administered.