Nutritional risk factors for institutional placement in Alzheimer's disease after one year follow-up.
Amongst factors associated with the institutional placement of elderly people with dementia, there has been little study of those related to malnutrition. We followed a cohort of 318 individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Patients, who were all living at home at the start of the study were recruited from the outpatient service of a hospital unit specialising in AD. After one year, 20% of the patients had moved into institutional care. Multivariate analysis showed that a Mini nutritional Assessment score (MNA) of less than 25.5 (median score of the sample) and overeating behavioural problems (p=0.006) were risk factors for institutional placement. Nutritional problems are reversible and patients with a low MNA score could benefit from a thorough geriatric assessment, in order to slow or prevent institutional placement.
Andrieu
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Gerontology, Alzheimer Center, 170 chemin de Casselardit, 31300 Toulouse, France. sandrieu@cict.fr
Reynish
W
W
Nourhashemi
F
F
Ousset
P J
PJ
Grandjean
H
H
Grand
A
A
Albarede
J L
JL
Vellas
B
B
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
D012709:Serum Albumin