Fast and simple screening for nutritional status in hospitalized, elderly people

• Published in: Journal of human nutrition and dietetics Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 53 - 60
• Main Authors: Thorsdottir, I, Jonsson, P.V, Asgeirsdottir, A.E, Hjaltadottir, I, Bjornsson, S, Ramel, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-02-2005; Blackwell Science; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: adult day care; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; appetite; Biological and medical sciences; body mass index; elderly; elderly nutrition; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Health Status Indicators; Hospitalization; hospitalized patients; hospitals; Humans; Male; malnutrition; Mass Screening - methods; men; Nutrition Assessment; Nutrition Disorders - diagnosis; nutritional screening; Nutritional Status; patients; Regression Analysis; Risk Assessment; screening; Sensitivity and Specificity; surgery; Time Factors; validation; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; weight loss; women; Human; Denutrition; Nutrition; hospitalized patients; Hospitalization; nutritional screening; Medical screening; Elderly; Nutritional status; validation
• ISSN: 0952-3871; 1365-277X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-277X.2004.00580.x

Background: Undernutrition has been frequently reported among hospitalized elderly patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mini nutrition assessment (MNA) and a screening sheet for malnutrition (SSM) by full nutritional assessment (FNA) in elderly people, and to construct a shorter screening method by combining important questions from MNA and SSM. Having a screening tool as fast and simple as possible could increase its use in clinical routines. Methods: FNA, MNA and SSM were carried out on 60 hospitalized patients (>65 years). Sensitivity and specificity for MNA and SSM were calculated in comparison with FNA. In order to construct a short and simple screening tool, questions from the two screening tools, which differed significantly between mal- and well-nourished patients, were used in a multivariate, stepwise linear regression. The regression model was simplified to be suitable in clinical routines. Results: Malnourishment was diagnosed by FNA in 58.3% of the elderly patients, with no gender difference. Body mass index, unintended weight loss, recent surgery and loss of appetite were predictors of malnutrition in the regression model (R2 = 60.1%). The sensitivity and specificity of the simplified regression model were 89 and 88%, respectively, which was more precise than MNA (77 and 36%) and SSM (89 and 60%). Conclusion: According to FNA, malnutrition is frequent in elderly hospitalized patients. Four questions are sufficient to conduct precise nutritional screening for malnutrition in elderly hospitalized patients. This new screening tool should be verified in other samples.