Nutritional screening tools and anthropometric measures associate with hospital discharge outcomes in older people.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of nutritional screening tools (NSTs) and anthropometric measures with hospital outcomes in older people.


METHODS
In 172 patients aged ≥70 years admitted to a Geriatric Evaluation Management Unit (GEMU), nutritional status was measured using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), MNA-short form (MNA-SF), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire, calf circumference (CC), mid-arm circumference (MAC) and BMI.


RESULTS
Malnutrition according to the MNA occurred in 53 (31%) patients. Functional change was associated with GNRI (Beta coefficient (β), 95% CI = 0.17, 0.001-0.33) and CC (β, 95% CI = 0.17, 0.01-0.33); GEMU length of stay was associated with MNA-SF-BMI (β, 95% CI = -0.02, -0.003 to -0.004) and MNA-SF-CC (β, 95% CI = -0.02, -0.003 to -0.001). MAC was associated with discharge to higher level of care (OR, 95% CI = 0.88, 0.81-0.96).


CONCLUSIONS
In hospitalised older people, admission NSTs and anthropometric measures associate with discharge outcomes.
Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Elsa
E
Dent
Ian
I
Chapman
Cynthia
C
Piantadosi
Renuka
R
Visvanathan
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
aged; geriatric assessment/methods; hospitalisation; nutritional assessment