title: Association between malnutrition and Barthel Index in a cohort of hospitalized older adults article information.
abstract: [Purpose] In this study, we sought to evaluate the relationship between the Barthel Index and the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form in a cohort of elderly patients hospitalized in the General Rehabilitation Center. [Subjects and Methods] Three hundred and forty-four patients underwent an extensive evaluation, which included the following tests: 1) a Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form to evaluate nutritional status; and 2) a Barthel Index assessment to evaluate functional status. We categorized patients into three age groups (65-74 yrs, 75-84 yrs, and >85 yrs). Barthel Index cutoff scores were defined as ≥45 out of 100 for better functional status and <45 for worse functional status. [Results] Significant associations between age distribution and the scores obtained with the Barthel Index and Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form were found; nutritional status measured with Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form and functional status measured with the Barthel Index were positively related. [Conclusion] This study shows that the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form value was associated with the Barthel Index score, and that these scores varied with age.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Italy.
authors.forename: Jorge Hugo
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Villafañe
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pirali
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dughi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Italy.
authors.forename: Amidio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manno
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negrini
keywords: Barthel Index; Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form; Nutritional status