title: Malnutrition is associated with an increased risk of falls and impaired activity in elderly patients in Dutch residential long-term care (LTC): a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Falls are frequent in LTC, with considerable health consequences. This study explores the relationship between malnutrition, activity, and falls in Dutch LTC residents and the influence of nutritional intervention on this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  A secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional, multi-center point prevalence and incidence measurement.
  
  
  METHODS
  81 LTC settings in The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  6.701 LTC residents aged 65 and older; mean age 84; 70% female. Prevalence measurements of nutritional status and activity, and a 30 days incidence measurement of falls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all participating residents, 9.8% sustained at least one fall, and 22.8% was malnourished. Malnourished residents were more often a faller (odd ratio (OR) 1.78; p<0.01) and inactive (OR 1.7, p<0.01) than non-malnourished residents. Multivariate analysis confirmed the relation between malnutrition and fallers, without interference of activity. In the malnourished group with nutritional intervention, the percentage of fallers was lower than in the malnourished group without nutritional intervention (OR 0.738; p=0.056).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malnutrition is associated with an increased risk of being a faller and with impaired activity in Dutch LTC residents. Malnourished residents who receive nutritional intervention have a lower risk of being a faller.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Home De Riethorst Stromenland, PO Box 35, 4931 AA Geertruidenberg, The Netherlands. j.neyens@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neyens
authors.forename: Ruud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Halfens
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spreeuwenberg
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meijers
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luiking
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verlaan
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schols
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors