Urinary Hydration Biomarkers and Water Sources in Older Adults with Neurocognitive Disorder

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 15; no. 3; p. 548
• Main Authors: Queirós, Cátia, Machado, Flávia Borges, Barros, Duarte, Sampaio, Joana, Sampaio, Arnaldina, Barros, Renata, Moreira, Pedro, Ribeiro, Óscar, Carvalho, Joana, Padrão, Patrícia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 20-01-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Adults; Aged; Alzheimer's disease; Beverages; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - urine; Body composition; Caregivers; Cognition; Cognition disorders in old age; Complications and side effects; Creatinine; Dehydration; Dehydration (Physiology); Dehydration - diagnosis; Dehydration - urine; Dementia; Diagnosis; Dietary intake; Drinking; Drinking (Physiology); Eating; Education; Female; Food and nutrition; Health aspects; Humans; Hydration; hydration status; Institutionalization; Male; Metabolism; neurocognitive disorder; Neurocognitive Disorders; older adults; Older people; Osmolar Concentration; Overweight; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Potassium; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Sociodemographics; Sodium; urinary osmolality; Urine; Water; Water intake; Water intakes; water sources; Womens health; Portugal; older adults; hydration status; water sources; urinary osmolality; neurocognitive disorder
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15030548

The risk of dehydration in older adults with neurocognitive disorder (NCD) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess hydration status, its determinants, and water intake sources in older adults with NCD. A sample of 30 participants (≥60 years) was included. Sociodemographic, clinical data and one 24-h urine sample were collected. Urinary osmolality, sodium, potassium, volume, and creatinine were quantified. Inadequate hydration status corresponded to urine osmolality > 500 mOsm/Kg, or a negative Free Water Reserve (FWR). Two 24-h food recalls were used to assess dietary intake and water sources. The adequacy of total water intake (TWI) was estimated according to EFSA. The contribution of food and beverages to TWI was calculated, and their associations with the urinary osmolality median were tested. Of the total number of participants, 30% were classified as having inadequate hydration status, with no differences between sexes. Regarding TWI, 68.4% of women and 77.8% of men did not reach the reference values. Water (23%), followed by soup (17%), contributed the most to TWI, while vegetables (2%) and alcoholic/other beverages (3%) contributed the least. According to the median urinary osmolality, there was no significant difference in sociodemographic/clinical characteristics. It is critical not to overlook hydration in this vulnerable population.