Risk Factors for Malnutrition in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of the Literature Based on Longitudinal Data

Change in habitual intakes of flavonoid-rich foods and mortality in US males and females

BACKGROUND

Higher baseline intakes of flavonoid-rich foods and beverages are associated with a lower risk of chronic disease and mortality in observational studies. However, associations between changes in intakes and mortality remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate associations between 8-year changes in intakes of (1) individual flavonoid-rich foods and (2) a composite measure (termed the 'flavodiet') of foods and beverages that are known to be main contributors to flavonoid intake and subsequent total and cause-specific mortality.

METHODS

We evaluated associations between 8-year changes in intakes of (1) individual flavonoid-rich foods and (2) a novel 'flavodiet' score and total and cause-specific mortality. We included 55,786 females from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and 29,800 males from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS), without chronic disease at baseline in our analyses. Using multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models, we examined associations of 8-year changes in intakes of (1) flavonoid-rich foods and (2) the flavodiet score with subsequent 2-year lagged 6-year risk of mortality adjusting for baseline intakes. Data were pooled using fixed-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS

We documented 15,293 deaths in the NHS and 8988 deaths in HPFS between 1986 and 2018. For blueberries, red wine and peppers, a 5%, 4% and 9% lower risk of mortality, respectively, was seen for each 3.5 servings/week increase in intakes while for tea, a 3% lower risk was seen for each 7 servings/week increase [Pooled HR (95% CI) for blueberries; 0.95 (0.91, 0.99); red wine: 0.96 (0.93, 0.99); peppers: 0.91 (0.88, 0.95); and tea: 0.97 (0.95, 0.98)]. Conversely, a 3.5 servings/week increase in intakes of onions and grapefruit plus grapefruit juice was associated with a 5% and 6% higher risk of total mortality, respectively. An increase of 3 servings per day in the flavodiet score was associated with an 8% lower risk of total mortality [Pooled HR: 0.92 (0.89, 0.96)], and a 13% lower risk of neurological mortality [Pooled HR: 0.87 (0.79, 0.97)], after multivariable adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS

Encouraging an increased intake of specific flavonoid-rich foods and beverages, namely tea, blueberries, red wine, and peppers, even in middle age, may lower early mortality risk.

Sex, cognitive state and falls as factors associated with malnutrition: a cross-sectional study of institutionalized older adults living in a rural area of Portugal

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is an underestimated geriatric problem, with a high prevalence in institutionalized older adults. The identification of risk factors for malnutrition in elderly individuals must be a priority for governmental organizations worldwide.

METHODS

A total of 98 institutionalized seniors were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. For the assessment of risk factors, sociodemographic characteristics and health-related information were collected. The Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form test was used to assess malnutrition in the sample population.

RESULTS

A significantly greater proportion of women than men were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. In addition, the comparative analysis revealed that comorbidity, arthritis, balance impairment, dementia and fall episodes with serious injuries were significantly more frequent in the older adults categorized as malnourished or at risk of malnutrition than in those categorized as well-nourished.

CONCLUSIONS

Multivariable regression analysis revealed that being female, having a poor cognitive status and experiencing falls with injuries are the main independent factors influencing nutritional status in institutionalized older adults living in a rural area of Portugal.

Association between Visual Impairment and Nutritional Risk among Older Adults with Diabetes: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

Despite the high prevalence of visual impairment caused by diabetic retinopathy and nutritional problems among older adults with diabetes, evidence regarding factors related to nutritional risk in this population is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the correlates of nutritional risk among older adults with diabetes, focusing on visual impairment.

METHODS

This study was a secondary data analysis of the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans aged 65 years and above. The sample comprised 2,376 older adults with diabetes, and complex sample ANOVA and Rao-Scott chi-square tests were used to compare the groups according to visual impairment. Complex-sample logistic regression analyses were conducted to verify the association between visual impairment and nutritional risk.

RESULTS

Older adults with diabetes, who also have severe visual impairment, are more likely to have nutritional risk status than those without impairment after controlling for covariates (odds ratio [OR] = 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16~5.13). Among the covariates, depression (OR = 3.58, 95% CI 2.60~4.94), dependent activities of daily living status (OR = 2.79, 95% CI 1.60~4.86), and experience of hospitalization during the past year (OR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.57~4.03) were strongly associated with nutritional risk.

CONCLUSION

Severe visual impairment increases the nutritional risk among older adults with diabetes. Therefore, it is essential to prevent visual impairment due to exacerbation of diabetes through appropriate management. Additionally, tailored nutritional interventions for visually impaired older adults with diabetes that consider visual characteristics are required.

Determinants of Malnutrition among Elderly Women Living in Institutional Care

Background

Healthy aging and well-being are largely influenced by nutrition.

Objective

The objective of the study was to evaluate the risk of malnutrition in elderly women residing in institutional care and its contributing factors.

Methodology

One hundred institutionalized women aged 60 years and above were screened for malnutrition using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool. Details on sociodemographic profile, physical activity, medical conditions, and food habits were gathered through researcher administered survey method.

Results

The study participants had an average height of 149.70 cm (±7.31), weight of 50.72 kg (±9.11), body mass index of 22.77 kg/m2 (±4.68), body fat percentage of 31.30% (±8.99), mid-arm circumference of 27.36 cm (±7.84), calf circumference of 30.11 cm (±7.51), MNA score of 10.42 (±4.06), and hand grip strength score of 18.69 kg/lbs (±3.80). Upon analyzing the MNA scores, it was found that 9% of elderly women were well nourished, 62% were at risk of malnutrition, and 29% were malnourished. A significant difference was observed in the mean MNA scores (P < 0.05). Age, education level, body fat percentage, appetite, and dental problems were significantly associated with malnutrition (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Geriatric residents in old-age homes require adequate nutrition to maintain health. This can be achieved by providing individualized meal planning, reducing barriers to eating, and incorporating nutrient-dense foods.

The Relationship between Nutritional Risk and the Most Common Chronic Diseases in Hospitalized Geriatric Population from Central Poland

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) and the prevalence of concomitant chronic diseases among hospitalized older adults. This study included 2122 consecutively hospitalized older participants with an average age of 82 years. The criteria to participate were the ability to communicate and give consent. In multivariate design, the prevalence of nutritional risk with at least 3 points in the NRS-2002 score was associated with the presence of stroke, atrial fibrillation, dementia and pressure ulcers. Patients with arterial hypertension, lipid disorders, osteoarthritis and urine incontinence had a significantly lower (better) NRS-2002 score. The explanation of the inverse relationship between some disorders and nutritional risk may be their occurrence in relatively earlier age and the relationship with body mass index. In conclusion, the study revealed which medical conditions coexist with the increased nutritional risk in a “real-world” hospitalized geriatric population. The hospital admission of an older subject with stroke, atrial fibrillation, dementia or pressure ulcers should primarily draw attention to the nutritional risk of the patient.

Relationship between the Prevalence of Metabolic Disease and Impaired Mobility, Diet, Physical Activity, and Socio-Demographic Characteristics in the Polish Elderly-A Cross-Sectional Study

Maintaining good health for as long as possible presents a great challenge for the elderly. As the elderly population is growing, there is an ongoing need to identify health risk factors affecting older individuals. The study aimed to explore relationships between sociodemographic characteristics, diet, physical activity, and prevalence of metabolic diseases and impaired mobility in the Polish elderly. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 417 elderlies in May-July 2021. Cluster analysis was applied to separate four homogeneous clusters based on the prevalence of metabolic disease and impaired mobility. Logistic regression analysis was used to verify associations between variables. Being overweight or having obesity, as well as following a diet, increased the probability of being affected by metabolic disease. Being well educated, having a better financial situation, positive perception of own health, and having at least moderate physical activity decreased the probability of suffering from mobility impairments. Eating behaviors were not found to be predictors of the disease. However, they differentiated the selected clusters. The results confirmed the heterogeneity of factors that may impact healthy aging. Thus, they should be taken into account by public health authorities to develop health promotion actions adjusted to the needs of specific subgroups.

Malnutrition in older adults

Malnutrition is a highly prevalent condition in older adults, and poses a substantial burden on health, social, and aged-care systems. Older adults are vulnerable to malnutrition due to age-related physiological decline, reduced access to nutritious food, and comorbidity. Clinical guidelines recommend routine screening for malnutrition in all older adults, together with nutritional assessment and individually tailored nutritional support for older adults with a positive screening test. Nutritional support includes offering individualised nutritional advice and counselling; oral nutritional supplements; fortified foods; and enteral or parenteral nutrition as required. However, in clinical practice, the incorporation of nutritional guidelines is inadequate and low-value care is commonplace. This Review discusses the current evidence on identification and treatment of malnutrition in older adults, identifies gaps between evidence and practice in clinical care, and offers practical strategies to translate evidence-based knowledge into improved nutritional care. We also provide an overview of the prevalence, causes, and risk factors of malnutrition in older adults across health-care settings.

Polypharmacy and precision medicine

Precision medicine is an approach to maximise the effectiveness of disease treatment and prevention and minimise harm from medications by considering relevant demographic, clinical, genomic and environmental factors in making treatment decisions. Precision medicine is complex, even for decisions about single drugs for single diseases, as it requires expert consideration of multiple measurable factors that affect pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and many patient-specific variables. Given the increasing number of patients with multiple conditions and medications, there is a need to apply lessons learned from precision medicine in monotherapy and single disease management to optimise polypharmacy. However, precision medicine for optimisation of polypharmacy is particularly challenging because of the vast number of interacting factors that influence drug use and response. In this narrative review, we aim to provide and apply the latest research findings to achieve precision medicine in the context of polypharmacy. Specifically, this review aims to (1) summarise challenges in achieving precision medicine specific to polypharmacy; (2) synthesise the current approaches to precision medicine in polypharmacy; (3) provide a summary of the literature in the field of prediction of unknown drug-drug interactions (DDI) and (4) propose a novel approach to provide precision medicine for patients with polypharmacy. For our proposed model to be implemented in routine clinical practice, a comprehensive intervention bundle needs to be integrated into the electronic medical record using bioinformatic approaches on a wide range of data to predict the effects of polypharmacy regimens on an individual. In addition, clinicians need to be trained to interpret the results of data from sources including pharmacogenomic testing, DDI prediction and physiological-pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling to inform their medication reviews. Future studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of this model and to test generalisability so that it can be implemented at scale, aiming to improve outcomes in people with polypharmacy.

Nutritional rehabilitation after acute illness among older patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Acute illness can lead to disability and reduced quality of life in older patients. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of nutritional rehabilitation provided during and after hospitalisation for an acute event on functional status, muscle mass, discharge destination and quality of life of older patients.

METHODS

The protocol for this systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021264971). Articles were searched using Scopus, Medline, Google Scholar and Clinical.

TRIALS

gov. For studies included in the meta-analysis, Hedges'g standardized mean difference effect size was calculated and transformed in odds ratios.

RESULTS

We identified 7383 articles, of which 45 publications (41 trials, n = 8538 participants, mean age 80.35 ± 7.01 years.) were eligible for the systematic review. Patients were hospitalized for acute medical diseases (n = 6925) and fractures (n = 1063). The interventions included supplementation with a fixed amount of oral nutritional supplements (ONS, n = 17 trials), individualized diet plan (n = 3), combination of physical exercise with nutrition therapy (n = 14 trials), combination of anabolic agents with nutrition therapy (n = 5 trials). Overall nutritional rehabilitation improved functional status (Odds ratio 1.63 [1.15; 2.3], p = 0.003) and muscle mass (Odds ratio 2.61 [1.22; 5.5], p = 0.01), but not the quality of life or the discharge destination.

CONCLUSION

Nutritional rehabilitation was found to improve functional status and muscle mass. There is a need for larger studies involving older hospitalized patients.

Evaluation of Selected Parameters of Oxidative Stress and Adipokine Levels in Hospitalized Older Patients with Diverse Nutritional Status

Malnutrition is classified as one of the Giant Geriatric Syndromes. It carries serious consequences, such as sarcopenia or depression, which lead to functional disability. The main objective of this study was to identify parameters of oxidative stress and adipokines, which may be potential biomarkers of malnutrition in hospitalized older patients. During the study, selected parameters were determined in 137 senile patients, taking into account their nutritional status determined according to the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), as well as an additional tool, namely the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI). Leptin and resistin were determined as the parameters with statistically significant differences between the patients classified according to the MNA. This phenomenon was confirmed using the GNRI classification. However, additional parameters for which differences were observed include the oxidized low-density lipoprotein level and activity of glutathione peroxidase. In conclusion, the determination of the mentioned markers in hospitalized senile patients as an adjunct to the routine assessment of nutritional status might be suggested to identify the early risk of malnutrition so that a personalized nutritional therapy can be implemented as early as possible.

Evaluation of diet quality and associated factors in geriatric outpatients: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: In this study, our aim was to investigate the quality of dietary intake of elderly individuals and to identify the factors that may be associated with their diet quality. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 198 elderly participants. Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used to evaluate nutritional status. The frequency of dietary intake was assessed using the Elderly Diet Index (EDI) score. RESULTS: The median age of study population was 76.0 years. The median EDI score was 27.0, moreover, only 27.3%of the study population had moderate or high diet quality. The results of the univariate analysis revealed that having an average or a poor appetite reduced the diet quality in the elderly which was statistically significantly (p = 0.010 and p = 0.019, respectively), and each point increase in the MNA score statistically significantly increased the chance of moderate/good diet quality by 1.16 times. CONCLUSIONS: The poor diet quality of the elderly was associated with their education, appetite, nutritional, and smoking status.

Intergenerational Programming Increases Solid Food Consumption for Adult Day Center Attendees

We examined whether participation in intergenerational programming would impact daily food and liquid intake for adult day service center (ADSC) participants, many of whom are at risk for malnutrition and dehydration. Data came from 75 ADSC participants who, on average, attended the center for 472.32 days between 2007 and 2018. We analyzed daily data using multilevel modeling, nesting attending days within ADSC participants. On days when participants joined intergenerational programming, they consumed significantly more solid food (β = 1.54, SD = .37, p < .001), but no different liquid (β = -.16, SD = .09, p = .06), than their own average across all days they attended the ADSC. Intergenerational programming may be an effective way to support ADSCs participants' nutrition. Future research is needed to determine the longer-term health benefits of daily increases in food consumption and to explore why intergenerational programming may differentially impact eating and drinking.

Establishing Healthy Eating 'Habits': A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of a Habit-Based Dietary Intervention following Oral Rehabilitation for Older Adults

An ageing population presents significant nutritional challenges, particularly for partially dentate adults. This two-armed pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) compared habit formation (automaticity) for healthy eating behaviours between control and intervention groups after participation in a habit-based dietary intervention for older adults, following oral rehabilitation in the United Kingdom (UK). n = 54 participants were randomised to receive a habit-based dietary intervention (intervention group n = 27, IG) or standard dietary advice in a leaflet (control group n = 27, CG). The IG attended three sessions over six weeks, which focused on habit formation for three healthy eating behaviours (increasing fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, and healthy proteins). Participants were assessed for habit strength (using the Self-Report Behavioural Automaticity Index (SRBAI)) alongside health and nutrition outcomes at six weeks, four months and eight months. Forty-nine participants completed all follow-up visits. The IG compared to the CG had significant increases in automaticity at six weeks, four months (primary outcome) and eight months for eating ≥3 portions of fruit and vegetables; choosing wholegrain sources over white alternatives, and choosing healthy protein sources over red/processed meat. The mean change in the Mini Nutritional Assessment total score was greater in the IG compared with the CG at six weeks only (p = 0.03). A habit-based dietary intervention following oral rehabilitation increased automaticity for healthy dietary behaviours, which could translate into clinically meaningful benefits in this cohort of older adults.

Interaction between malnutrition and physical disability in older adults: is there a malnutrition-disability cycle?

Malnutrition and physical disability are urgent issues in super-aging societies and the 2 phenomena are closely linked in older adults. Both conditions have common underlying causes, including physiological changes due to aging and burdens imposed by disease or injury. Accordingly, a concept of the malnutrition-disability cycle was generated and a comprehensive literature search was performed. There was insufficient evidence to prove an interrelationship between malnutrition and physical disabilities, because of the study design and poor quality, among other factors. However, some evidence exists for the interaction between low body mass index and swallowing disorders, and the effects of some malnutrition and disability components. This review provides the rationale for this interaction, the concept of a malnutrition-disability cycle is proposed, and the available evidence is critically appraise.

Beliefs underlying older adults' intention to consume plant-based protein foods: A qualitative study

The revised Canada's food guide released in 2019 promotes the consumption of plant-based protein foods (PBP). Yet, older adults consume little of them. This qualitative study aimed to identify older adults' beliefs about consuming PBP and to assess differences in beliefs by gender and baseline PBP consumption. Recruitment was done to obtain an equal number of men and women, 20 PBP-consumers and 40 non-consumers. Each participant completed an online questionnaire collecting sociodemographic data and took part in an individual semi-structured interview based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. A thematic analysis was performed using the Nvivo software. Health benefits, good taste and protecting the environment were perceived as advantages of consuming PBP, whereas difficulty digesting and not liking the taste were reported as disadvantages. Family members were frequently named as people who would approve and/or disapprove the consumption of PBP. Having more knowledge about PBP would facilitate consumption, while lack of motivation to change eating habits and lack of knowledge on how to prepare PBP meals were perceived barriers. Several differences in beliefs by gender and baseline PBP consumption were observed. Future interventions should focus on the beliefs that were identified as important to older adults (i.e., health benefits and food preparation skills), and should be tailored to their gender and PBP consumption.

Value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for diagnosing sarcopenia in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and efficacy of Baduanjin exercise combined with nutritional support

Objective

To investigate the value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for diagnosing sarcopenia in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and efficacy of Baduanjin exercise combined with nutritional support on MHD patients with sarcopenia.

Methods

A total of 220 patients undergoing MHD in MHD centers were selected, among which 84 had occurred with sarcopenia confirmed by measurements from the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Data were collected for analyzing the influencing factors that lead to the onset of sarcopenia in MHD patients with the use of one-way analysis of variance and multivariate logistic regression. The role of NLR in the diagnosis of sarcopenia was explored, and its correlation with relevant diagnostic measurement performance such as grip strength, gait speed and skeletal muscle mass index was analyzed. In the end, some 74 patients with sarcopenia that qualify for further intervention and observation standards were divided into observation group (Baduanjin exercise plus nutritional support) and control group (nutritional support only), which were both intervened for 12 weeks. A total of 68 patients finished all interventions, with 33 patients in the observation group and 35 in the control group. The grip strength, gait speed, skeletal muscle mass index as well as the NLR were compared between the two groups.

Results

With the employment of multivariate logistic regression analysis, it was found that age, hemodialysis duration and NLR were risk factors for the onset of sarcopenia in MHD patients (P < 0.05). The area under ROC curve for NLR of MHD patients with sarcopenia was 0.695, and NLR was negatively correlated with a biochemical indicator-human blood albumin (P < 0.05). NLR was also negatively correlated with patient's grip strength, gait speed and skeletal muscle mass index, with the same correlation found in sarcopenia patients (all P < 0.05). After intervention, patient's grip strength and gait speed were both higher, and the NLR lower in the observation group than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The occurrence of sarcopenia in MHD patients is associated with patient's age, hemodialysis duration and NLR. Therefore, it has been concluded that NLR has certain values in the diagnosis of sarcopenia in patients undergoing MHD. Moreover, the muscular strength can be enhanced and inflammation decreased in sarcopenia patients through nutritional support and physical exercise, i.e., Bajinduan exercise.

Malnutrition is associated with six-month mortality in older patients admitted to the emergency department with hip fracture

Background

Hip fractures in older people are a common health problem often associated with malnutrition that might affect outcomes. Screening for malnutrition is not a routine examination in emergency departments (ED). This analysis of the EMAAge study, a prospective, multicenter cohort study, aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of older patients (≥ 50 years) with hip fracture, factors associated with malnutrition risk, and the association between malnutrition and the six-months mortality.

Methods

Risk of malnutrition was evaluated using the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire. Clinical data as well as data on depression and physical activity were determined. Mortality was captured for the first six months after the event. To assess factors associated with malnutrition risk we used a binary logistic regression. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association of malnutrition risk with six-month survival adjusted for other relevant risk factors.

Results

The sample consisted of N = 318 hip fracture patients aged 50 to 98 (68% women). The prevalence of malnutrition risk was 25.3% (n = 76) at the time of injury. There were no differences in triage categories or routine parameters measured in the ED that could point to malnutrition. 89% of the patients (n = 267) survived for six months. The mean survival time was longer in those without malnutrition risk (171.9 (167.1-176.9) days vs. 153.1 (140.0-166.2) days). The Kaplan Meier curves and the unadjusted Cox regression (Hazard Ratio (HR) 3.08 (1.61-5.91)) showed differences between patients with and patients without malnutrition risk. In the adjusted Cox regression model, risk of death was associated with malnutrition risk (HR 2.61, 1.34-5.06), older age (70-76 years: HR 2.5 (0.52-11.99); 77-82 years: HR 4.25 (1.15-15.62); 83-99 years: HR 3.82 (1.05-13.88)) and a high burden of comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3: HR 5.4 (1.53-19.12)).

Conclusion

Risk of malnutrition was associated with higher mortality after hip fracture. ED parameters did not differentiate between patients with nutritional deficiencies and those without. Therefore, it is particularly important to pay attention to malnutrition in EDs to detect patients at risk of adverse outcomes and to initiate early interventions.

Malnutrition among the aged population in Africa: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of studies over the past 20 years

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, malnutrition among the advanced age (60 years and older) population is becoming a public health problem worldwide, especially in low-income countries including Africa. Hence, the prevalence in Africa is still not known. So, this review aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of under-nutrition among the advanced age population in Africa.

METHODS

A study search was carried out using databases (such as African Journals Online, Web of Science, Global Index Medicus, Embess, and PubMed) and gray literature following PRISMA guidelines from April 20, 2022, to May 30, 2022, with no restriction on date of publication. We used a standardized extraction format to compile eligible studies as per the inclusion criteria. Then, systematic review and meta-analysis were employed using a random effect model to obtain the pooled prevalence of malnutrition among aged population living in Africa. The counter-funnel plot and at the 5% significance level, Egger's test and Begg's test were used to check for publication bias. Furthermore, a meta-regression analysis was carried out to identify the relationship between the outcome of interest and different predictors.

RESULTS

A total of 731 studies were identified and 28 met the inclusion criteria, which were conducted in 17 African countries. The pooled prevalence of under-nutrition in Africa was 17% (95%CI; 13.5-20.6). The prevalence of malnutrition among the elderly varied significantly across countries, ranging from 1.8% (95% CI; 0.96-2.63) in South Africa to 39.47% (95% CI; 31.70-47.24) in Kenya. According to meta-regression analysis, the likelihood of a malnutrition problem would be reduced by a factor of 9.84 (β = -9.84, 95 percent CI; _-14.97, -4.70, P = 0.00) in upper-middle income countries. In addition, based on the publication year, malnutrition has decreased by a factor of 0.75 (β = -0.75, 95%CI:-1.49, -0.01, P = 0.04) from 1998 to 2021.

CONCLUSION

There is a high prevalence of malnutrition among the aged population. So, this underserved population should be targeted for intervention programs and/or integrated into maternal and child nutrition programs.

What is the overlap between malnutrition, frailty and sarcopenia in the older population? Study protocol for cross-sectional study using UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

In an increasingly older adult population, understanding the inter-relationship between three age related conditions malnutrition, frailty and sarcopenia is important in order to improve their recognition, treatment and prevention. This study aims to determine the overlap between malnutrition, frailty and sarcopenia by measuring estimates of prevalence for each individual condition. In addition, we will compare two models of frailty which are the accumulation of deficits and phenotype models.

METHODS/DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional study that will use the UK Biobank database, which will include a subset of 381,000 participants: males and females aged 50 years and above who completed the baseline assessments. For the baseline assessments, details of the participants' characteristics will be included. All three conditions will be identified and mapped to variables collected at the baseline assessment. Variables for malnutrition will be mapped according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Frailty will be defined according to two models: the 36 deficits and the phenotype model. Finally, sarcopenia will be assessed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) standard.

DISCUSSION

This proposed study will help to understand the presence of malnutrition, frailty and sarcopenia in the older population and describe any overlap between the conditions. There is little published research on the overlap between these three conditions. Despite the similarity and shared criteria used for the identification of malnutrition, frailty and sarcopenia there is still a lack of cohesive thinking around the overlap of applied definitions and identification criteria.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04655456 approved on the 10th of December 2020.

Anorexia of Aging: Metabolic Changes and Biomarker Discovery

The age-associated decrease in appetite and food intake is referred to as "anorexia of aging". Older adults with anorexia show changes in the quantity/quality of energy supplied to the organism which eventually may cause a mismatch between ingested calories and physiological energy demands. Therefore, a state of malnutrition and impaired metabolism may ensue which renders older people more vulnerable to stressors and more prone to incur negative health outcomes. These latter cover a wide range of conditions including sarcopenia, low engagement in physical activity, and more severe consequences such as disability, loss of independence, hospitalization, nursing home placement, and mortality. Malnutrition has been recognized by the European Society of Clinical Nutrition (ESPEN) among the chief risk factors for the development of frailty. Frailty refers to a state of increased vulnerability to stressors stemming from reduced physiologic reserve, and according to ESPEN, is also nutrition-based. Alike frailty, anorexia is highly prevalent among older adults, and its multifactorial nature includes metabolic changes that develop in older age and possibly underly the condition. Circulating factors, including hormones (eg, cholecystokinin, ghrelin, leptin, and inflammatory and microbial mediators of gut dysbiosis), have been proposed as biomarkers for this condition to support early identification and develop personalized nutritional interventions. Additional studies are needed to untangle the interrelationship between gut microbiota and appetite regulation in older adults operating through brain-gut crosstalk. Furthermore, the contribution of the genetic background to appetite regulation and specific nutritional needs warrants investigation. Here, we provide an overview on anorexia of aging in the context of age-related metabolic changes. A special focus is placed on candidate biomarkers that may be used to assist in the early identification of anorexia of aging and in the development of personalized nutritional counseling.

Combined Effects of Cognitive Impairment and Nutritional Trajectories on Functional Recovery for Older Patients after Hip-Fracture Surgery

OBJECTIVES

Malnutrition and cognitive impairment are associated with poor functional recovery in older adults following hip-fracture surgery. This study examined the combined effects of cognitive impairment and nutritional trajectories on postoperative functional recovery for older adults following hip-fracture surgery.

DESIGN

Prospective longitudinal correlational study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This study recruited 350 older adults (≥60 years of age) who received hip-fracture surgery at a 3000-bed medical center in northern Taiwan from September 2012 to March 2020.

METHODS

Participant data were collected over a 2-year period after surgery for nutritional and cognitive status and activities of daily living (ADLs). Participants were grouped by type of nutritional trajectory using group-based trajectory modeling. Generalized estimating equations analyzed associations between trajectory groups/cognitive status at discharge and performance of ADLs.

RESULTS

Nutritional trajectories best fit a 3-group trajectory model: malnourished (19%), at-risk of malnutrition (40%), and well-nourished (41%). Nutritional status for the malnourished group declined from 12 months to 24 months following surgery; nutritional status remained stable for at-risk of malnutrition and well-nourished groups. Interactions for cognitive impairment-by-nutritional status were significant: the malnourished + intact cognition subgroup had significantly better ADLs than the malnourished + cognitive impairment subgroup (b = 27.1, 95% confidence interval = 14.0-40.2; P < .001). For at-risk of malnutrition and well-nourished groups, there were no significant differences between cognitive impairment and intact cognition in ADLs. These findings suggest that nutritional status may buffer the negative effect of cognitive impairment on ADLs.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Better nutritional status over time for older adults following hip fracture can protect against adverse influences of cognitive impairment on ADLs during postoperative recovery. Participants with malnutrition and cognitive impairment had the poorest ADLs. These findings suggest interventions tailored to improving nutritional status may improve recovery for older adults following hip-fracture surgery.

Food Accessibility in the Suburbs of the Metropolitan City of Antwerp (Belgium): A Factor of Concern in Local Public Health and Active and Healthy Aging

Population aging and declining birth rates are key demographic trends of the 21st century. While the overall life expectancy and healthy life years increase, the quality of life and functional capacity worsens due to non-communicable diseases strongly related to aging. Therefore, aging citizens are often vulnerable to food insecurity. The aim of this paper is to provide insights into the physical accessibility of fresh food and possible alternatives within the setting of an aging society in Antwerp (Belgium), a metropolitan city at the heart of the EU Reference Site 'Three Rivers Food Delta'. We demonstrate that a large number of the Antwerp suburban areas in which 15 to 25% of current inhabitants are already over 65 years old are confronted with problematic physical accessibility of food due to long walking distances to the nearest food shop. E-commerce has the potential to provide better access to fresh food. This is especially relevant for people with specific needs, such as health-related diets, dysphagia, and/or limited mobility. However, e-commerce introduces new inequalities, as those who would benefit the most from digital accessibility currently use it least. Hence, the organization of fresh food access requires a more thoughtful organization of the 'last mile' and possible alternatives to home delivery. This makes food accessibility an urgent factor of concern in public health and healthy aging in the Antwerp suburban areas.

Temporal Trends in Incidence of Nutritional Deficiency among Older Adults in China: A Secondary Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2019

Nutritional deficiency is prevalent among the elderly, and it is associated with many adverse health consequences. China is rapidly moving toward an aging society with a large population; however, evidence on the epidemiological trends in nutritional deficiency among the Chinese elderly is limited. Data on the incidence of nutritional deficiency among Chinese adults aged 65 years or above from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 database. We used the joinpoint regression method to estimate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) and to describe trend patterns. Age, period, and cohort effects were determined using age-period-cohort models. From 1990 to 2019, the incidence of vitamin A deficiency and iodine deficiency among Chinese older adults decreased from 1784.12 and 8.20 to 304.27 and 7.26 per 100,000, with AAPCs of -0.41 (-0.44, -0.38)% and -5.86 (-6.29, -5.43)%, respectively. A continually increasing trend was seen for incidence rates of protein-energy malnutrition, from 1342.02 to 2275.87 per 100,000 person-years, with an AAPC of 1.70 (1.40, 2.01)%. These trends were more pronounced among men than women. A strong age effect and birth cohort effect were present. Specifically, the population that was older or born later had a lower incidence of deficiencies in vitamin A and iodine but a higher incidence of protein-energy malnutrition. The results show a substantial reduction in vitamin A and iodine deficiencies among the Chinese elderly, and health policies and public awareness are needed to address the burden of protein-energy malnutrition in this population.

A Snapshot of the Experience of Dietitians during the COVID-19 Crisis in Five Arab Countries: Findings from a Regional Cross-Sectional Study

COVID-19's intimidating spread has challenged the resilience of the global health systems, causing shifts in the practices of healthcare workers, including dietitians. The current study aimed to assess the change in dietitians' practices and duties in hospitals/clinics after the commencement of COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted in five Arab countries between November 2020 and January 2021. A convenient sample of 903 dietitians filled an online self-administered questionnaire to meet the study aims. Nearly 40.0% of the dietitians experienced a change in their workload and caseload during the pandemic. Besides, 18.7% of the dietitians had been assigned additional tasks in their facilities. Nearly half the dietitians (46.9%) had started giving remote nutrition consultations, associated with a 21% drop in the number of dietitians offering in-person consultations (p = 0.001). Approximately 58.9% of the dietitians provided nutrition care to COVID-19 patients, with 48.4% having access to personal protective equipment. Moreover, 17.0% of dietitians supported COVID-19 patients with enteral and parenteral nutrition. In addition, 45.0% of dietitians reported that managing COVID-19 was challenging given that it was a newly discovered condition.

Risk of Malnutrition and Insufficient Protein Intake among Older People Living at Home: Baseline Findings of the Power Meals Study

This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status, nutrient intake and associated factors among older home care clients, caregivers and care recipients (≥65 years) living at home. There were a total of 78 participants, with a mean age of 78 ± 7.4 years. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), nutrient intake with a three-day food record, sarcopenia with a Simple Questionnaire to Rapidly Diagnose Sarcopenia (SARC) and depression with The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Almost one-third (32.1%) were at risk of malnutrition and 2.6% suffered from malnutrition. Impaired nutritional status was associated with depressive symptoms (β = -0.277, p = 0.015) and risk of sarcopenia (SARC points) (β = -0.401, p = 0.001). Mean protein intake was 0.9 ± 0.3 g/adjusted body weight/day. Intakes of protein and multiple vitamins and minerals were lower than recommended. In conclusion, a third of older people living at home were at risk of malnutrition or malnourished. Multiple physical, psychological and social factors in older adults were associated with nutritional status and protein intake.

Nutritional intake and malnutrition in institutionalised and non-institutionalised older adults

Malnutrition (synonym: undernutrition) is prevalent among older adults, which may be partly related to changes in dietary intake, but evidence on the link between malnutrition and diet is scarce. The aims of this study were to estimate the association between energy/nutrients intake and malnutrition, and to characterise nutritional inadequacy in institutionalised and non-institutionalised older adults. A national survey was conducted including a Portuguese representative sample of nursing home (NH) residents (n 563) and community-dwellers (n 837) aged ≥ 65 years. Data included socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported health, loneliness feelings, nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment^®) and dietary intake (two non-consecutive 24-h recalls). A higher energy intake was associated with lower odds of malnutrition risk (being 'at risk of malnutrition' or 'malnourished') in both settings, but only significant among NH residents after adjusting for confounders (NH: OR = 0·66, 95 % CI 0·50, 0·86; community: OR = 0·64, 95 % CI 0·37, 1·10). The intake of carbohydrates, fat, fibre, vitamin C, Na, K and Mg was inversely associated with malnutrition risk in NH residents, and protein, fat, vitamin B₆, folates, Na, K, Ca and Mg intake in community-dwellers. After additional adjustment for total energy, only Na and Mg intake of community-dwellers remained significantly associated. The prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake was generally higher for the malnutrition risk group, which was particularly evident among community-dwellers. The effect of dietary intake on nutritional status seems more dependent on total energy and carbohydrates intake in institutionalised elders, whereas among community-dwellers protein and some micronutrients appear to have a greater impact.

Cut-off of Anthropometric Measurements and Nutritional Status among Elderly Outpatients in a Tertiary Health Care Center in Telangana

Introduction:Geriatric population is most vulnerable to various emerging communicable and noncommunicable diseases due to various socio-economic, physiological, psychological and nutritional risk factors. Adequate nutritional status is utmost important in older age as it helps in maintaining the immune response and preventing the morbidities and mortalities in this age. Thus, the opportunistic screening of malnutrition among geriatric population gives an extra edge for achievement of healthy ageing in the elderly. The objective of the present study was to assess the nutritional status among the elderly population and provide cut-off values of various anthropometric measurements for detecting the risk of malnutrition among old age people. Materials and methods:The present cross-sectional study was carried out among people aged . 60 years who visited the geriatric clinic of a tertiary health care center between May and December 2021. The nutritional status of the 468 selected elderly was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool and various anthropometric measurements. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Youden index were used to determine the cut-off values of anthropometric measurements. Correlation between various anthropometric parameters was studied. Data was analyzed using SPSS vs. 20 software. Results:Out of the 468 subjects, around one third had a risk of malnutrition and 7% malnutrition as per the MNA scale. Cut-off values of triceps skinfold thickness, neck circumference and arm muscle circumference were 12.5 cm, 32.5 cm, 18.3 cm and 11.5 cm, 35.5 cm, 21.2 cm for detecting malnutrition and risk of malnutrition, respectively. Neck circumference was found to be the most suitable measurement, with a cut-off value of 32.5 cm and 35.5 cm for detecting malnutrition and risk of malnutrition, respectively, as it possessed the highest Youden index and AUC. Conclusion:The prevalence of malnutrition was found to be low in the present study setting. Our findings firmly established that the neck circumference could be used as a simple, rapid, non-invasive and valid screening tool, with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting the risk of malnutrition in geriatric clinics or primary health care settings.

Malnutrition-related conditions and interventions in US state/territorial Older Americans Act aging plans

Background

Factors that decrease independence and increase morbidity must be reduced to improve the nutrition, health, and other challenges confronting older adults. In the United States (US), the Older Americans Act (OAA) requires each state/territory develop multi-year aging plans for spending federal funds that foster healthy aging (including support of congregate/home delivered meals programs) and separately requires grant applications for nutrition service programs supporting older Native Americans. Malnutrition (particularly protein-energy undernutrition), sarcopenia, frailty, and obesity can all result in disability but are potentially changeable. The study goal was to collect baseline information on mentions of these malnutrition-related conditions and interventions that address them in US state/territorial OAA program multi-year aging plans.

Methods

OAA program multi-year aging plans available on the ADvancing States website in February 2021 (n = 52) were searched for number of mentions of defined nutrition terms including malnutrition, sarcopenia, frailty, obesity, and whether terms were included in plans’ goals/objectives, strategies/actions, or solely in the narrative.

Results

Malnutrition, sarcopenia, frailty, and obesity were mentioned infrequently in US state/territorial OAA program multi-year aging plans. 33% of plans mentioned malnutrition but only 8% as goals/objectives and 15% as strategies/actions. 62% mentioned frailty; 6% (goals/objectives), 15% (strategies/actions). None mentioned sarcopenia whereas in contrast, 21% mentioned obesity; 2% (goals/objectives), 2% (strategies/actions). Nutrition intervention mentions were nearly nil. There were no significant differences in frequency of term mentions by US region or by states with higher percentages of older adults or obese adults.

Conclusions

Clearly specifying definitions of malnutrition-related conditions and incorporating them into measurable goals/objectives, defined strategies/actions, and outcomes may help improve future state/territorial OAA program multi-year aging plans to better support healthy aging.

Longitudinal Association Between Oral Status and Cognitive Decline Using Fixed-effects Analysis

BACKGROUND

Although the feasibility of randomized trials for investigating the long-term association between oral health and cognitive decline is low, deriving causal inferences from observational data is challenging. We aimed to investigate the association between poor oral status and subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) using fixed-effects model to eliminate the confounding effect of unobserved time-invariant factors.

METHODS

We used data from Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) which was conducted in 2010, 2013, and 2016. β regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals [CIs] were calculated using fixed-effects models to determine the effect of deteriorating oral status on developing SCC. Onset of SCC was evaluated using the Kihon Checklist-Cognitive function score. Four oral status variables were used: awareness of swallowing difficulty, decline in masticatory function, dry mouth, and number of teeth.

RESULTS

We included 13,594 participants (55.8% women) without SCC at baseline. The mean age was 72.4 (standard deviation [SD], 5.1) years for men and 72.4 (SD, 4.9) years for women. Within the 6-year follow-up, 26.6% of men and 24.9% of women developed SCC. The probability of developing SCC was significantly higher when participants acquired swallowing difficulty (β = 0.088; 95% CI, 0.065-0.111 for men and β = 0.077; 95% CI, 0.057-0.097 for women), decline in masticatory function (β = 0.039; 95% CI, 0.021-0.057 for men and β = 0.030; 95% CI, 0.013-0.046 for women), dry mouth (β = 0.026; 95% CI, 0.005-0.048 for men and β = 0.064; 95% CI, 0.045-0.083 for women), and tooth loss (β = 0.043; 95% CI, 0.001-0.085 for men and β = 0.058; 95% CI, 0.015-0.102 for women).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that good oral health needs to be maintained to prevent the development of SCC, which increases the risk for future dementia.

[Nutritional status and use of health resources following the implementation of a PEG tube nutrition program for neurological patients in home hospitalization]

Objective: the objective of this study was to demonstrate that implementation of enteral nutrition by gastrostomy tube by the Home Hospitalization Unit (HHU) in patients suffering from neurological diseases, significantly improves their nutritional status, both in terms of anthropometric and analytical parameters. Methods: data on admissions, days of hospital stay, emergency room visits and nutritional parameters were collected during the 6 months before and 6 months after placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube in 100 patients from the UHD at General University Hospital in Elda (Alicante). Results: a total of 100 neurological patients were included in the study; 58 % of them were women and with a mean age (standard deviation, SD) of 78.3 (13.3) years, with 60 % of the patients being > 80 years. The monitoring and home treatment of these patients by the HHU of General University Hospital in Elda led to improvement in quality of life and nutritional parameters (weight, body mass index, proteins, albumin, prealbumin, creatinine, and hemoglobin), as well as a decrease in the number of complications derived from the nutritional management of patients at their home, and a significant reduction in number of admissions (90.27 %) and days of hospital stay (94.05 %), as well as of visits to emergency services (79.47 %), with a consequent reduction in healthcare costs. Conclusions: the implementation of a home-based monitoring program for patients with PEG by a HHU improves their nutritional status and reduces healthcare costs.

Exploring Meal Provision and Mealtime Challenges for Aged Care Residents Consuming Texture-Modified Diets: A Mixed Methods Study

Dysphagia has become more prevalent with age. Thus, the demand for texture-modified diets (TMDs) has increased. While the nutritional perspectives have been studied, the provision of TMDs and mealtime practice has received less attention. This study aimed to explore the TMD provision and mealtime challenges of residents requiring TMDs in aged care facilities. The study was conducted across five aged care facilities using a mixed methods design involving 14 TMD menu audits by a foodservice dietitian, 15 mealtime observations, and semi-structured interviews with residents and staff (n = 18). TMD menus failed to meet all nutrition requirements and foodservice and clinical standards based on the dietitian NZ foodservice and nutrition audit tool. A content analysis offered three main themes: (1) Foodservice production. Inconsistent quality and meal portions were observed. The variety, choice, and portion size of TMDs required improvement based on the residents’ preferences; (2) Serving procedures. There was a lack of standardisation of meal distribution and feeding assistance; and (3) Dining environment. The dining room set-up varied across facilities, and residents expressed different preferences towards the dining environment. There is a need to improve staff awareness of mealtime consistency and optimise feeding assistance. The dining environment should be individualised to accommodate residents’ psychosocial needs. Standardised policies and continuous training can facilitate quality mealtime implementation.

Malnutrition is Common and Increases the Risk of Adverse Medical Events in Older Adults With Femoral Fragility Fractures

BACKGROUND

Femoral fragility fractures are one of the most common injuries managed by orthopedic surgeons. Malnutrition influences the poor outcomes observed in this population. Our purpose was to assess the annual trends of malnutrition diagnosis and determine risk factors for malnutrition and complications in patients 65 years and older presenting with femoral fragility fractures. We hypothesized that malnutrition would increase the risk of postoperative wound infection, wound dehiscence, non-union, and mortality.

METHODS

The PearlDiver database was reviewed from 2010 to 2020. Patients ≥ 65-years-old with femur fractures treated with operative fixation were identified by CPT code. A preoperative diagnosis of malnourished state was defined by ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes and patients were divided into malnourished and non-malnourished cohorts. Patients were tracked for one year following operative fixation of a femoral fragility fracture for the occurrence of infection, wound dehiscence, nonunion and mortality. The rates of these complications were compared between malnourished and nonmalnourished cohorts.

RESULTS

There were 178,283 total femoral fragility fractures identified in patients aged 65-years or older. The overall prevalence of malnutrition diagnosis in this geriatric population was 12.8%. Documented malnutrition in femoral fragility fractures increased from 1.6% to 32.9% from 2010-2020 (P<0.0001). Compared to patients without malnutrition, patients with malnutrition are at increased risk of mortality (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.2558 - 1.3752, p < 0.0001), are more likely to develop a wound infection (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.252 - 1.7626; p < 0.0001), more likely to have a wound dehiscence (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.3416 - 1.7949; p < 0.0001), and more likely to develop non-union (1.89; 95% CI 1.6946 - 2.1095; p < 0.0001). Multiple demographic variables were associated with malnutrition diagnosis including higher age, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, female sex, dementia, and institutionalization. Parkinson's disease, feeding difficulty and institutionalization demographic variables had the highest risk of malnutrition.

CONCLUSION

The current study found that malnutrition diagnosis significantly increases the risk of adverse medical events in elderly adults with femoral fragility fractures. The rates of malnutrition increased steadily from 2010-2020. This trend is likely a result of increased awareness and testing for malnutrition, not reflecting an actual increased prevalence of malnutrition. Multiple expected demographic variables are associated with diagnosis of malnutrition. Level of Evidence: III.

Creating foods for older adults: Emotional responses and liking of microwave-assisted thermal sterilization processed meals

The purpose of this study was to examine emotional and liking responses to foods designed for older adults and made using microwave-assisted thermal sterilization technology (MATS). Six chicken pasta meals (three each with and without herbs) were formulated with three concentrations of salt at 100%, 75%, and 50%. Seventy-six community-dwelling older adults conducted sensory and emotional evaluations. Sensory testing involved measuring liking of various sensory attributes using a 9-point hedonic scale, Just-about-right scales to measure appropriateness of the intensity of the attributes, and check-all-that-apply questions to identify perceived flavor and texture attributes. EsSense25 methodology was used for capturing food-evoked emotional responses. Significant differences existed in all measured sensory attributes and in 14 out of the 25 tested emotions across the six meals. Liking scores for all pastas with herbs and high salt pasta with no herbs were not significantly different for all tested attributes and fell between neither like nor dislike and like slightly on the 9-point hedonic scale. These samples were also associated with positive emotions related to energy and activation. Low-salt pastas with no herbs were consistently the least liked samples and evoked negative emotions. Results show that sodium content can be reduced by up to half when herbs are added to microwave-processed pasta meals without compromising liking. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Chicken pasta meals manufactured using microwave-assisted thermal sterilization technology are acceptable to community living individuals 60 years and older. Emotional responses to the meal are positive. When formulating these meals, herbs can be added to lower sodium content formulations to improve liking and increase the number of positive emotions associated with the meal. Microwave-assisted thermal sterilization, sodium reduction, emotional responses, consumer liking, older adults.

Physical Condition and Risk of Hospitalization and Polypharmacy in Older Adults

Hospitalization in older population leads to a decline in physical function, physical condition and independency. However, a scarce number of studies has addressed the effect of being in good physical condition on the risk of hospitalization and polypharmacy in older people. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between physical condition and other health factors, and the incidence of hospitalization and polypharmacy in Spanish older persons. For this cross-sectional study 102 community-dwelling persons aged 80 years or older who were being treated at three primary care centers. The data collected were number of hospitalizations and medications, dietary habits, nutrition status, quality of life, independence in activities of daily life, physical performance and associated genotype data. Scoring higher in the tests Chair stand and 8-Foot Up-and-go was found associated with reduced risks of hospitalization [OR = .45 (95% CI = .2, .99); OR .32 (95% CI = .12, .86)] and polypharmacy [OR = .36 (95% CI = .16, .8); OR= .28 (95% CI = .1, .78)]. The number of medications was also lower in individuals with a greater aerobic capacity and activities of daily life independence [OR = .28 (95% CI = .1, .78); OR = .37 (95% CI = .16, .82)]. No associations were found with the remaining physical performance tests or other factors assessed. Our findings point to benefits of greater strength, balance and aerobic capacity in terms of reducing the risk of hospitalization and polypharmacy.

Does lower quality of life and daily living activity increase nutritional risk of elderly residing in care home facilities?

INTRODUCTION

Aging is a predictable phenomenon that its prevalence is increasing dramatically in the world. There is an association between quality of life, functional independence, and nutritional risk in elderlies, so the aim of the current study is the evaluation of the quality of life and functional independence's effects on nutritional status.

METHODS

A total of 160 elderly people that had a hospitalization for at least 6 months in the care home facilities were selected from 2 care home facility centers to participate in the study. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered using questionnaires for demographic characteristics, health data, eating habits, quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF), functional assessment (Barthel Index), and mini-nutrition assessment (MNA) throughout the face-to-face interview.

RESULTS

The overall quality of life score, age, weight, and BMI differed significantly between malnourished and well-nourished subjects. Also, the daily living activity score of subjects who were well-nourished was higher than malnourished participants. Higher daily living activity decreased the risk of being malnourished (OR _{malnutrition/well-nourished} = 0.306, P < 0.001). There was also a significant relationship between BMI (OR _{malnutrition/well-nourished} = 0.731, P = 0.001; OR _{at-risk/well-nourished} = 0.786, P = 0.003) and marital status with MNA score (OR _{single/married} = 1.460, P = 0.001 for malnutrition; OR _{single/married} = 1.183, P = 0.004 for being at risk of malnutrition).

CONCLUSIONS

The elderly living in nursing homes are exposed to nutritional risks and mental disorders. So with timely assessment and interventions to improve the quality of life and physical and mental health of elder dwellers, their malnutrition can be prevented.

Enhanced Risk of Osteoporotic Fracture in Patients with Sarcopenia: A National Population-Based Study in Taiwan

Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with poor health outcomes in older adults. However, its association with the risk of fracture risk is yet to be clarified. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the incidence and consequence of osteoporosis-related fractures among patients with sarcopenia in Taiwan. A retrospective, population-based study on 616 patients with sarcopenia, aged >40 years, and 1232 individuals without sarcopenia was conducted to evaluate claims data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database collected in the period January 2000−December 2013. The incidence rate of osteoporosis-related fracture was 18.13 and 14.61 per 1000 person years in the patients with sarcopenia and comparison cohort, respectively. Patients with sarcopenia had a greater osteoporotic fracture risk (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.47−3.04) after correcting for possible confounding. Additionally, females showed statistically significant correlations of sarcopenia with osteoporosis-related fracture risk (HR 1.53; CI 0.83−2.8 for males and HR 2.40, CI 1.51−3.81 for females). During this retrospective study on the fracture risk in Taiwan, an adverse impact of sarcopenia was observed, which substantiates the need to work toward sarcopenia prevention and interventions to reverse fracture susceptibility in patients with sarcopenia.

Eating problems among old home care clients

Aims

The purpose was to examine the prevalence and determinants of self‐reported eating problems in old home care clients, screened separately by a clinical nutritionist and a dental hygienist.

Methods and Results

The data came from the Nutrition, Oral Health and Medication (NutOrMed) study, the participants of which were ≥75‐year‐old home care clients living in Finland. The structured interviews were conducted at the participants' (n = 250) homes. Of the participants, 29% reported poor appetite, 20% had problems with chewing, and 14% had problems with swallowing when asked by a clinical nutritionist. Additionally, 18% reported oral health‐related eating problems when asked by a dental hygienist. Participants with continuous xerostomia (odds ratio [OR]: 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0–9.0) or poor self‐reported oral health (OR: 4.3, 95% CI: 1.4–13.0) had a higher risk for problems with chewing when asked by a clinical nutritionist. Edentulous participants (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1.2–10.9) and participants with toothache or problems with dentures (OR: 10.3, 95% CI: 4.0–26.0) had a higher risk for oral health‐related eating problems when asked by a dental hygienist.

Conclusion

Eating problems are common in older adults, and interprofessional collaboration is required for their identification and alleviation.

Physical Activity and Diet in a Global Pandemic: An Investigation of the Impact of COVID-19 on Factors Relevant for Musculoskeletal Health at Two Different Stages of the Lifecourse

Background

Physical activity, nutrition and other lifestyle factors play important roles in maintaining musculoskeletal health. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originated in late 2019, spread globally to be declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation in March 2020, and led to widespread behaviour change. The aim of this study was to use two existing cohorts, the Hertfordshire Cohort Study (HCS) and Health and Employment After Fifty Study (HEAF), to understand how wave one of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted lifestyle factors associated with musculoskeletal health in the UK.

Methods

125 eligible participants, 65 males and 60 females (drawn from the HCS study, median (IQR) age 84.3 (82.4-86.6) years, all Caucasian, and community dwelling) were contacted by telephone and asked to complete a questionnaire administered by a trained researcher. Data collection occurred over the period July 2020 to February 2021. 2469 participants, 1086 men and 1383 women (drawn from the HEAF study, median age 65.7 (62.0-69.3) years, mostly Caucasian and community dwelling) completed an online questionnaire in March 2021.

Results

In HCS, 47% respondents reported being less physically active than before the pandemic (and only 5% more so), 27% said they consumed less alcohol compared to pre-pandemic times (and only 3% more so), and 18% reported eating less than before, although quality of diet was generally unchanged over this timeframe surveyed. In HEAF, 44% participants said they were less active than before the pandemic, while 17% reported being more active. The majority of participants reported no changes in alcohol consumption and diet; however, 19% said they drank more than before (32% of which was above recommended levels), 16% said their diet was less healthy, and 19% reported eating more than before.

Conclusion

We have reported the experience of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among participants of two Caucasian community dwelling UK cohorts, highlighting the impact of the pandemic on lifestyle factors associated with musculoskeletal health. Changed physical activity levels were reported in a high proportion of respondents in both studies; an investigation of reversibility of these changes is required.

Psychosocial factors influencing the eating behaviours of older adults: A systematic review

Our understanding of how eating behaviours change in later life have been dominated by the studies of physiological and biological influences on malnutrition. Insights from these studies were consequently used to develop interventions, which are predominantly aimed at rectifying nutritional deficiencies, as opposed to interventions that may enable older adults to eat well and enjoy their food-related life well into older age. The objective of the present review is to summarise the existing knowledge base on psychosocial influences on eating behaviours in later life. Following comprehensive searches, review, and appraisal, 53 articles were included (22 qualitative and 31 quantitative) to provide a greater understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the psychosocial factors influencing eating behaviours. Our analysis identified eight underpinning psychosocial factors that influences eating behaviours in later life; (1) health awareness & attitudes, (2) food decision making, (3) perceived dietary control, (4) mental health & mood, (5) food emotions & enjoyment, (6) eating arrangements, (7) social facilitation, and (8) social support. The importance and lasting influence of early food experiences were also identified as contributing to eating behaviours in later life. The review concludes with the call for further investigation into specific psychosocial factors that influence eating behaviour, calls for improvements in methodologies, and a summary of psychosocial barriers and enablers to eating well in later life.

Correlation between nutritional status and oral health quality of life, self-efficacy of older inpatients and the influencing factors

OBJECTIVE

This study explores the relationship between nutritional status and oral health quality of life, the self-efficacy of older inpatients and the correlative factors.

METHODS

In this study, the convenience sampling method was used to select 307 older inpatients in the southern section of the Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from October to December 2020 as the main research participants. A mini nutritional assessment questionnaire was used to assess nutritional status, and the Chinese version of a geriatric oral health assessment index questionnaire was used to determine the oral health quality of life. Self-efficacy was assessed by a general self-efficacy scale questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data using the SPSS 22.0 software. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to explore the correlation between variables and factors concerned with nutritional status, respectively.

RESULTS

The results of this study showed that the self-efficacy and oral health quality of life of older inpatients were at a moderate level. Among the patients, 263 had one or more tooth defects, and only 128 had oral restorations or wore dentures. The risk of malnutrition in hospitalised older patients was 37.1%, and the incidence of malnutrition was 13.4%. The risk factors of nutritional status of older patients were age, oral-related quality of life, prealbumin index, self-efficacy, chronic disease, monthly income and tooth defect (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of malnutrition and malnutrition risk in hospitalised older patients is relatively high. The main associated factors include age, tooth defect, oral health quality of life, self-efficacy, chronic disease status and monthly income. Therefore, older inpatients, especially those with prosthodontic problems, should carry out nutritional assessments, intervention and graded management as soon as possible to improve their self-efficacy, improve their nutrition and health status and reduce the incidence of a poor prognosis.

Factors Affecting Hospitalization and Death of Older Patients Who Need Long-Term Care—The Necessity of the Support for Dysphagia in Home Dental Care

The demand for home dental care is increasing, but how it should be involved in the continuation of life at home for elderly people who need care has not been examined. Therefore, we examined whether items examined by dentists can affect hospitalization and death. The study included 239 patients with oral intake. They were divided into regular and non-regular diet groups, and ages, nutritional statuses, activities of daily living (ADLs), Charlson Comorbidity Indexes (CCI) and swallowing functions were compared. The nutritional statuses and ADLs of the three groups at the first visit and after one year were compared. The groups included those with stable, declined and improved diet forms. Factors influencing hospitalization and death over three years were examined. Nutritional status, swallowing function, CCI and ADLs were worse in the non-regular diet group. The declined diet form group had lower ADL levels and nutritional statuses at the first visit. A proportional hazards analysis showed significant differences in the changes in diet form for the stable and declined groups related to hospitalization (hazard ratio (HR): 6.53) and death (HR: 3.76). Changes in diet form were thought to affect hospitalization and death, and it is worthwhile to assess swallowing function in home dental care.

Oral condition as a predictor of risk for malnutrition during hospitalization: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition and poor oral health are common conditions in patients in the hospital. Both conditions are associated with poor systemic health. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between the oral condition and the nutrition status of individuals admitted to a large tertiary hospital.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study evaluated 364 patients who received a comprehensive dental examination at their hospital bed. An examiner recorded visible plaque index, gingival bleeding index, plaque retentive factors, probing depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, number of existing teeth, and prosthesis use. Medical status was assessed by the Charlson Comorbidity Index. The nutrition status was evaluated by the Subjective Global Assessment. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated by Poisson regression analysis with robust variance.

RESULTS

Patients with moderate to severe malnutrition presented worse oral hygiene (55.83 ± 25.16 vs 64.90 ± 24.28; P < 0.001), more gingival inflammation (24.31 ± 24.13 vs 33.43 ± 27.36; P < 0.001), higher levels of attachment loss (4.22 ± 1.81 vs 4.80 ± 1.83; P < 0.001), and a lower mean number of teeth (14.58 ± 7.45 vs 10.94 ± 6.85; P < 0.001) than patients without malnutrition. In the multivariable analysis, the number of teeth and higher comorbidity index were associated with malnutrition.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor oral health and medical condition were associated with malnutrition in this single-institution study, and oral condition may be considered an indicator of malnutrition in patients in the hospital. The implications of this study include the need to raise awareness among health professionals of the importance of oral health and nutrition status in adults.

Parkinson's disease: the nutrition perspective

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease and affects about 1% of the population over the age of 60 years in industrialised countries. The aim of this review is to examine nutrition in PD across three domains: dietary intake and the development of PD; whole body metabolism in PD and the effects of PD symptoms and treatment on nutritional status. In most cases, PD is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and although there has been much research in the area, evidence suggests that poor dietary intake is not a risk factor for the development of PD. The evidence about body weight changes in both the prodromal and symptomatic phases of PD is inconclusive and is confounded by many factors. Malnutrition in PD has been documented as has sarcopaenia, although the prevalence of the latter remains uncertain due to a lack of consensus in the definition of sarcopaenia. PD symptoms, including those which are gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal, are known to adversely affect nutritional status. Similarly, PD treatments can cause nausea, vomiting and constipation, all of which can adversely affect nutritional status. Given that the prevalence of PD will increase as the population ages, it is important to understand the interplay between PD, comorbidities and nutritional status. Further research may contribute to the development of interventional strategies to improve symptoms, augment care and importantly, enhance the quality of life for patients living with this complex neurodegenerative disease.