title: A cross-sectional study of the nutritional status of community-dwelling people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have an increased risk of under-nutrition, but we are unaware of any population based prevalence studies of under-nutrition in PD. The main objective of this study was to identify the prevalence, and nature, of under-nutrition in a representative population of people with PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  People diagnosed with idiopathic PD from within two PD prevalence study sites in North-East England were asked to participate in this study. Those who participated (n = 136) were assessed using a number of standard rating scales including Hoehn & Yahr stage and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Body mass index (BMI), mid-arm circumference (MAC), triceps skin fold thickness (TSF) and grip strength were recorded together with social and demographic information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BMI < 20 identified over 15% of the study group to have under-nutrition. The Malnutritional Universal Screening Tool (MUST) scoring system identified 23.5% of participants at medium or high risk of malnutrition. Low BMI, indicating under-nutrition, was associated with greater age and disease duration, lower MAC, TSF, mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), reduced grip strength and a report of unintentional weight loss. Problems increased with increasing age and disease duration and were greater in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under-nutrition is a problem for around 15% of community dwelling people with PD. All PD patients should be screened for under-nutrition; the MUST score is a useful early screening tool.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. ahmed.jaafar@nuth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Ahmed F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jaafar
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Turnbull
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment