title: Nutrition screening of older people in a community general practice, using the MNA-SF.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition risk in a population of older people (aged 75 years and over) attending a community general practice and identify characteristics of those classified as malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of nutritional risk screen conducted over a six month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients attending a general practice clinic in Victoria, Australia, who attended for the "75 plus" health assessment check.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA®-SF) was included as part of the health assessment. Information was collected on living situation, co-morbidities, independence with meal preparation and eating, number of medications. Height and weight was measured and MNA®-SF score recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and twenty five patients attending a general practice for a health assessment with a mean age of 81.3(4.3)(SD) years, 52% female and 34% living alone. Only one patient was categorised by the MNA®-SF as malnourished, with an additional 16% classified as at risk of malnutrition. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of the at-risk group was significantly lower than the well-nourished group (23.6 ± 0.8 (SEM) vs 27.4 ± 0.3; p=0.0001). However, 34% of the at-risk group had a BMI of 25 or more with only 13% in the underweight category.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population of older adults attending their general practitioner for an annual health assessment, one in six were identified as being at nutritional risk which is an additional risk factor for a severe health issue. Importantly, one third of the at-risk group had a BMI in the overweight or obese category, highlighting that older people can be at nutritional risk although they may be overweight or obese.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McNaughton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nowson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
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