Nutritional status of adults participating in ambulatory rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the overall nutritional status of older adults participating in ambulatory rehabilitation and determine its association with relevant outcomes including physical function and quality of life.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Ambulatory rehabilitation service in the Southern region of Adelaide, Australia.


METHODS
A total of 229 participants recruited as part of a RCT between June 2005 and June 2006, stroke (n=83), elective orthopedic procedure (n=44) and other medical condition (n=102).


METHODS
Nutritional status was measured using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Simplified Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) and Body Mass Index. Functional performance was assessed using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and quality of life was measured using the Short Form-36 (SF-36).


RESULTS
Sixty-three percent of participants were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition according to the MNA and a third had a risk of >or= 5% weight loss in the subsequent six months, according to the SNAQ. Participants with a diagnosis other than stroke or elective orthopedic procedure were the most vulnerable, with 53% (n=74/140) classified as at risk of malnutrition or malnourished and a longer length of stay in hospital. Functional performance was no different for participants assessed as at risk of malnutrition or malnourished compared to the well nourished, but the SF-36 mental component score was significantly higher for those who were well nourished (p=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings emphasise the magnitude of the malnutrition problem in ambulatory rehabilitation settings. Further research is required to evaluate the resource implications against expected benefits of providing nutrition interventions at this point.
Kaur
Supreet
S
Flinders University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics G4, FMC Flats, Flinders Drive, Bedford Park South Australia 5042 Australia.
Miller
Michelle D
MD
Halbert
Julie
J
Giles
Lynne C
LC
Crotty
Maria
M
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome