title: Malnutrition in geriatric trauma patients: Screening methods in comparison.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malnutrition in geriatric patients is very common and an important outcome factor when treating injuries and fractures. There is actually no clear definition of the term malnutrition or recommendation for a screening method.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the nutritional status of geriatric trauma patients using different screening procedures. We tested whether the body mass index (BMI) gives indication for malnutrition or if there is a correlation with more specific test procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The BMI and the data of three specific screening procedures, Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) were calculated; clinical parameters were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was proof of correlation (p< 0.001) between BMI and SGA; also between BMI and NRS was a significant correlation (p= 0.0004). There was less significant correlation between BMI and MNA (p= 0.05). All three screening methods correlated (p< 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMI and subjective statements provide first important information. The SGA not only correlates well with the BMI, but also complements the overall picture with individual information regarding medical history and clinical findings. Other more extensive methods, such as the NRS and the MNA, also show correlation and complement the overall picture with individual information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Hospital Wermelskirchen, Wermelskirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goost
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vidakovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deborre
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Randau
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Koroush
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kabir
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status
keywords: Geriatric patient; Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA); Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS); Subjective Global Assessment (SGA); body mass index (BMI); fracture