Nutritional status, well-being and functional ability in frail elderly service flat residents.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate nutritional status and its relationship to cognition, well-being, functional ability and energy intake in frail elderly service flat residents.


METHODS
Cross-sectional and prospective study.


METHODS
Two municipal service flat complexes.


METHODS
A total of 80 residents (median age 85.5 (79-90) y) with regular home care assistance participated. A subgroup of 35 residents took part in a re-examination 1 y later.


METHODS
Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, Barthel Index and Health Index were used for the evaluation of nutritional, cognitive and ADL function and well-being, respectively.


RESULTS
In all, 30% of the frail and chronically ill service flat residents were assessed as malnourished and 59% were at risk of malnutrition. The malnourished residents had worse cognitive conditions (P<0.001) and well-being (P<0.05), lower functional ability (P<0.01) and they had a greater need for daily assistance (P<0.05) than the other residents. The median night fast period was 14.0 (12.5-15.0) h. Five subjects classified as malnourished at baseline had lost a median of -9.6 kg (range -11.0 to +7.3 kg) (P<0.05) in body weight at the 1-y follow-up, which contrasted significantly from the weight stability in residents classified as at risk for malnutrition or well-nourished.


CONCLUSIONS
Out of 10 residents, nine were assessed to have impending nutritional problems that related to impaired well-being, cognition, and functional ability. Malnourished residents had a significant weight loss over one year. Studies are needed to determine whether weight loss and nutrition-related dysfunction in service flat residents are preventable or treatable.
Division of Surgery, Centre for Surgical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. ann.odlund.olin@cdss.ki.se
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Odlund Olin
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Koochek
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Ljungqvist
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Cederholm
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D016852:Housing for the Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies