No correlation between mini-nutritional assessment (short form) scale and clinical outcomes in 73 elderly patients admitted for hip fracture.
OBJECTIVE
Malnutrition in general and protein deficiency in particular, both upon admission and during the recovery period, may adversely influence the clinical outcome after hip fracture. This study investigates the relationship between nutritional status measured by the Mini-Nutritional Assessment short form (MNA-SF) and biological markers in elderly hip-fractured patients.


METHODS
A prospective study in a university hospital. The MNA-SF nutritional scale and laboratory values (serum albumin, cholesterol, total lymphocyte count) were assessed within three days after hip fracture surgery.


RESULTS
Seventy-three patients were included: 61 (84%) were women and 12 men. Mean age was 81.5+/-7.1 years. Inhospital mortality was 10%. The mean MNA-SF score was 11+/-0.5 (range 3-14); according to these values, 39 patients (53%) were at risk of malnutrition. MNA-SF scores were not significantly correlated to patients' laboratory values. Fourteen episodes of nosocomial infection were diagnosed in 11 patients, and 6 patients developed pressure ulcers during hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
MNA-SF test scale values reflect a clinical process in post-operative hip-fractured patients which is different from serum albumin, cholesterol or lymphocyte count.
Formiga
Francesc
F
Geriatric Unit, Internal Medicine Service, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain. fformiga@csub.scs.es
Chivite
David
D
Mascaró
Jordi
J
Ramón
Josep Maria
JM
Pujol
Ramón
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers