Evaluation of the efficacy of six nutritional screening tools to predict malnutrition in the elderly

The implications of poor nutritional status on outcomes of geriatric trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is shown to be associated with worse outcomes among surgical patients, yet its postdischarge outcomes in trauma patients are not clear. This study aimed to evaluate both index admission and postdischarge outcomes of geriatric trauma patients who are at risk of poor nutritional status.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of the prospective observational American Association of Surgery for Trauma Frailty Multi-institutional Trial. Geriatric (≥65 years) patients presenting to 1 of the 17 Level I/II/III trauma centers (2019-2021) were included and stratified using the simplified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (albumin [g/dL] + body mass index [kg/m2]/10) into severe (simplified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index <5), moderate (5.5> simplified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index ≥5), mild level of nutritional risk (6> simplified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index ≥5.5), and good nutritional status (simplified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index ≥6) and compared.

RESULTS

Of the 1,321 patients enrolled, 22% were at risk of poor nutritional status (mild: 13%, moderate: 7%, severe: 3%). The mean age was 77 ± 8 years, and the median [interquartile range] Injury Severity Score was 9 [5-13]. Patients at risk of poor nutritional status had greater rates of sepsis, pneumonia, discharge to the skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center, index-admission mortality, and 3-month mortality (P < .05). On multivariable analyses, being at risk of severe level of nutritional risk was independently associated with sepsis (adjusted odds ratio 6.21, 95% confidence interval 1.68-22.90, P = .006), pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio 4.40, 95% confidence interval 1.21-16.1, P = .025), index-admission mortality (adjusted odds ratio 3.16, 95% confidence interval 1.03-9.68, P = .044), and 3-month mortality (adjusted odds ratio 8.89, 95% confidence interval 2.01-39.43, P = .004) compared with good nutrition state.

CONCLUSION

Nearly one quarter of geriatric trauma patients were at risk of poor nutritional status, which was identified as an independent predictor of worse index admission and 3-month postdischarge outcomes. These findings underscore the need for nutritional screening at admission.

Inflamm-ageing: How cytokines and nutrition shape the trajectory of ageing

Population ageing is increasing in prevalence in most developed countries. Ageing is the decline of functional properties at the cellular, tissue, and organ level. Biochemical changes that occur in all organisms that experience biological ageing are referred to as the "Hallmarks of ageing". Inflammation is a common denominator of the hallmarks of ageing, being mechanistically involved in most age-related health consequences. Inflamm-ageing refers to age-related changes in the inflammatory and immune systems which somehow drive the ageing process towards healthy or unhealthy ageing. Current evidences, support that, reversing the age-related pro-inflammatory status of inflamm-ageing, is able to modulate most hallmarks of ageing. Inflamm-ageing is associated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory molecules (e.g. cytokines, chemokines), ultimately producing a chronic low-grade inflammatory state typically observed in older individuals. It is commonly accepted that, the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines is one of the factors determining whether healthy or unhealthy ageing occurs. Malnutrition and nutritional imbalances, are highly prevalent in the elderly, playing a role in driving the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory immunoactive molecules. In particular, malnutrition is a major risk factor for sarcopenia, a phenomenon characterized by loss of muscle mass, which is often referred to as the biological basis for frailty. Given the close relationship between malnutrition and sarcopenia, there is also evidence for a link between malnutrition and frailty. Indeed, changes in cytokine/chemokine levels in elderly patients with malnutrition were demonstrated. The demonstration that specific cytokines play a role in modulating appetite and nutrient sensing and taste reception, provided further evidence for the existence of a link between inflamm-ageing, nutrition and cytokines in shaping the trajectory of ageing. The present review will overview current evidence supporting the role of specific circulating cytokines and chemokines in the relationship between ageing, inflammation, and malnutrition.

Nutritional Aspects of Wound Care

Malnutrition is a collective term that includes both undernutrition and malnutrition. Malnutrition presents with and without inflammation, is reported in underweight, normal weight, and overweight individuals, and is associated with undesirable alterations in body composition, and diminished functional status. Older adults commonly experience dwindling nutritional status as evidenced by insidious weight loss, insufficient dietary intake, loss of muscle mass, quality, and strength, declining functional status, and other physical and emotional decline indicators. Sustained pressure, acute trauma, malnutrition, and inflammatory-driven chronic conditions increase the risk for skin integrity issues.

Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy After Revascularisation Surgery in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Randomised Trial (PICO-Vasc Study)

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the potential benefits of using incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT) for patients undergoing revascularisation due to peripheral arterial disease.

METHODS

A prospective randomised controlled trial was conducted to compare the inguinal application of iNPWT vs. standard surgical dressings. Patients were enrolled from February 2021 to November 2022. A total of 133 groin incisions were randomised (66 intervention group, 67 control group). The randomisation sequence was carried out by permuted blocks and allocation assigned by opening opaque envelopes once the revascularisation procedure had finished. Wound healing and complication rates were assessed at post-operative days 5, 14, and 30. Primary and secondary endpoints were: 30 day post-operative surgical site infection (SSI) and surgical site occurrence (SSO) rates, defined as a surgical wound complication other than a SSI. Post-operative SSI was defined according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. SSO included: wound dehiscence, seroma or lymphocele, haematoma, and lymphorrhagia. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT04840576) and reported according to the CONSORT guidelines.

RESULTS

iNPWT did not modify the 30 day inguinal SSI and SSO rates (16.7% vs. 20.9% and 37.9% vs. 44.8%; p = .53, relative risk [RR] 0.999, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52 - 1.88 and p = .42, RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.89 - 1.86, respectively). It reduced the early SSO rate (19.7% vs. 35.8%; p = .044, RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.047 - 2.013) and post-operative seroma rate (4.6% vs. 19.4%; p = .014, RR 1.73, 95% CI 1.296 - 2.397).

CONCLUSION

There were no differences in SSI and SSO rates, although statistically significant reductions in early SSO rates and seroma were found in the intervention group.

Prognostic impact of malnutrition in patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Conflicting predictions of malnutrition for the long-term prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) exist.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between malnutrition and long-term prognosis of patients with CAD.

DATA SOURCES

Four databases were searched for articles from February 11, 1936, to September 10, 2022.

DATA EXTRACTION

Cohort studies adjusting for multiple cardiovascular risk factors with data on CAD and malnutrition were included. Malnutrition was measured and defined by different nutritional evaluation tools. The hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were synthesized. Subgroup analyses were performed based on study design, assessment tools, ethnicity/race, follow-up, sample size, and types of CAD. Meta-regression was used to compare whether the effect sizes of the 2 subgroups were statistically significant.

DATA ANALYSIS

A total of 30 cohort studies were included, totaling 81 361 participants with CAD. Nutritional evaluation tools, including the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, Mini-Nutritional Assessment, and Prognostic Nutritional Index, were used. Malnutrition increased all-cause mortality (HR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.53, 1.93) and MACEs (HR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.35, 1.60) in patients with CAD. Subgroup analysis revealed the results were consistent across study design, ethnicity/race, follow-up, sample size, and types of CAD. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression revealed that malnutrition was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 2.26; 95% CI: 1.91, 2.68) and MACEs (HR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.69, 3.08) in patients with stable CAD than those with other types of CAD. Meta-regression revealed that the GNRI (HR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.65, 2.93) was more effective than CONUT (HR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.78) in predicting all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition independently increased all-cause mortality by 72% and MACEs by 47% in patients with CAD, especially with stable CAD. The GNRI is a more effective nutritional evaluation tool than CONUT in predicting all-cause mortality.

Validity of nutrition screening tools for risk of malnutrition among hospitalized adult patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUNDS & AIMS

Malnutrition is prevalent among hospitalized patients in developed countries, contributing to negative health outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Timely identification and management of malnutrition are crucial. The lack of a universally accepted definition and standardized diagnostic criteria for malnutrition has led to the development of various screening tools, each with varying validity. This complicates early identification of malnutrition, hindering effective intervention strategies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the most valid and reliable nutritional screening tool for assessing the risk of malnutrition in hospitalized adults.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted to identify validation studies published from inception to November 2023, in the Pubmed/MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL databases. This systematic review was registered in INPLASY (INPLASY202090028). The risk of bias and quality of included studies were assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies version 2 (QUADAS-2). Meta-analyses were performed for screening tools accuracy using the symmetric hierarchical summary receiver operative characteristics models.

RESULTS

Of the 1646 articles retrieved, 60 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review, and 21 were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 51 malnutrition risk screening tools and 9 reference standards were identified. The meta-analyses assessed four common malnutrition risk screening tools against two reference standards (Subjective Global Assessment [SGA] and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism [ESPEN] criteria). The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) vs SGA had a sensitivity (95% Confidence Interval) of 0.84 (0.73-0.91), and specificity of 0.85 (0.75-0.91). The MUST vs ESPEN had a sensitivity of 0.97 (0.53-0.99) and specificity of 0.80 (0.50-0.94). The Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) vs SGA had a sensitivity of 0.81 (0.67-0.90) and specificity of 0.79 (0.72-0.74). The Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) vs ESPEN had a sensitivity of 0.99 (0.41-0.99) and specificity of 0.60 (0.45-0.73). The Nutrition Universal Screening Tool-2002 (NRS-2002) vs SGA had a sensitivity of 0.76 (0.58-0.87) and specificity of 0.86 (0.76-0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

The MUST demonstrated high accuracy in detecting malnutrition risk in hospitalized adults. However, the quality of the studies included varied greatly, possibly introducing bias in the results. Future research should compare tools within a specific patient population using a valid and universal gold standard to ensure improved patient care and outcomes.

Targeted metabolomic profiles of serum amino acids are independently correlated with malnutrition in older adults

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is a common geriatric syndrome that is closely associated with adverse clinical outcomes and poses significant harm to older adults. Early assessment of nutritional status plays a crucial role in preventing and intervening in cases of malnutrition. However, there is currently a lack of measurable methods and biomarkers to evaluate malnutrition in older adults accurately. The aim of this study is to investigate the independent correlation between serum levels of amino acids and malnutrition in older adults, and to identify effective metabolomics biomarkers that can aid in the early detection of geriatric malnutrition.

METHODS

A total of 254 geriatric medical examination participants from Beijing Hospital were included in the study, consisting of 182 individuals with normal nutritional status (Normal group) and 72 patients at risk of malnutrition or already malnourished (MN group). Malnutrition was assessed using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF). Demographic data were collected, and muscle-related and lipid indexes were determined. Serum amino acid concentrations were measured using isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The correlation between serum amino acid levels and malnutrition was analyzed using non-parametric tests, partial correlation analysis, linear regression, and logistic regression.

RESULTS

The geriatric MN group exhibited significantly lower serum aromatic amino acid levels (P < 0.05) compared to the normal group. A positive correlation was observed between serum aromatic amino acid levels and the MNA-SF score (P = 0.002), as well as with known biomarkers of malnutrition such as body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001) and hemoglobin (HGB) (P = 0.005). Multivariable logistic or linear regression analyses showed that aromatic amino acid levels were negatively correlated with MN and positively correlated with the MNA-SF score, after adjusting for some confounding factors, such as age, gender, BMI, smoking status, history of dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and frailty. Stratified analyses revealed that these trends were more pronounced in individuals without a history of frailty compared to those with a history of frailty, and there was an interaction between aromatic amino acid levels and frailty history (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that serum aromatic amino acids are independently associated with malnutrition in older adults. These results have important implications for identifying potential biomarkers to predict geriatric malnutrition or monitor its progression and severity, as malnutrition can result in poor clinical outcomes.

How to detect non-institutionalized older patients at risk of malnutrition during their hospitalization? Comparison of 8 screening tools for malnutrition or nutritional risk

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of malnutrition is high among the elderly population. Hospital admission is a window of opportunity for its detection.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the concordance of different nutritional scales in hospitalized patients.

METHODS

Prospective study in non-institutionalized patients over 65 years of age admitted to an internal medicine department. Five malnutrition screening surveys (MNA, MST, MUST, NRS-2000 and CONUT) and three nutritional risk screening surveys (SCREEN 3, 8 and 14) were compared. As gold standard we use the Global Malnutrition Leadership Initiative for Malnutrition (GLIM) definition of malnutrition.

RESULTS

Eighty-five patients (37% female, median age 83 years) were included. Forty-eight percent (95% CI 38-59%) of patients were classified as malnourished according to GLIM criteria. The SCREEN 3 scale was the most sensitive (93%; 95% CI 87-98) and MUST the most specific (91%; CI 85-99). The most effective scale for excluding suspected malnutrition was SCREEN 3 (LR- 0.17; 95% CI 0.05-0.53) and the best for confirming it was MST (LR+ 7.08; 95% CI 3.06-16.39). Concordance between the different scales was low or very low with kappa indices between 0.082 and 0.465.

CONCLUSIONS

A comprehensive approach is needed to detect malnutrition in hospitalized patients. More sensitive scales are more useful in initial screening. Nutritional risk tools could be effective at this stage. In a second step, malnutrition should be confirmed according to established criteria such as GLIM.

Establishment and validation of a nomogram clinical prediction model for osteoporosis in senile patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

This study aimed to develop a predictive nomogram model to estimate the odds of osteoporosis (OP) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and validate its prediction efficiency. The hospitalized elderly patients with T2DM from the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical University between July 2022 and March 2023 were included in this study. We sorted them into the model group and the validation group with a ratio of 7:3 randomly. The selection operator regression (LASSO) algorithm was utilized to select the optimal matching factors, which were then included in a multifactorial forward stepwise logistic regression to determine independent influencing factors and develop a nomogram. The discrimination, accuracy, and clinical efficacy of the nomogram model were analyzed utilizing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA). A total of 379 study participants were included in this study. Gender (OR = 8.801, 95% CI 4.695-16.499), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) < 98 (OR = 4.698, 95% CI 2.416-9.135), serum calcium (Ca) (OR = 0.023, 95% CI 0.003-0.154), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (OR = 1.181, 95% CI 1.055-1.322), duration of diabetes (OR = 1.076, 95% CI 1.034-1.119), and serum creatinine (SCr) (OR = 0.984, 95% CI 0.975-0.993) were identified as independent influencing factors for DOP occurrence in the elderly. The area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram model was 0.844 (95% CI 0.797-0.89) in the modeling group and 0.878 (95% CI 0.814-0.942) in the validation group. The nomogram clinical prediction model was well generalized and had moderate predictive value (AUC > 0.7), better calibration, and better clinical benefit. The nomogram model established in this study has good discrimination and accuracy, allowing for intuitive and individualized analysis of the risk of DOP occurrence in elderly individuals. It can identify high-risk populations and facilitate the development of effective preventive measures.

Frailty and nutrition

As the ageing population grows and forms a significant category of over 65s in many societies, along with it comes the risk of developing physical and psychological degenerative changes. This presents many challenges for health and social care services in not only identifying those at risk but also managing that risk to try to preserve health and independence for as long as possible. Screening for frailty has supported services to identify those that may be at risk of hospitalisation, requiring long term care or support services at home in older age. Frailty can be exacerbated by the risk of nutritional deficiencies and more severe malnutrition. Therefore, screening for frailty should also include a nutritional assessment, which can be supported by a recognition of the need for nutritional support along with other holistic frailty management.

Prognostic value of metabolic syndrome in patients with heart failure and malnutrition

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is severely associated with worst prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). Malnourished patients with the metabolic syndrome (MS) can result in a double burden of malnutrition. We aimed to investigate the impact of the MS on clinical outcomes in malnourished HF patients.

METHODS

We examined 529 HF patients at risk of malnutrition with a mean age of (66 ± 10) years and 78% (415) were male. Nutritional status defined primarily by the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), with PNI < 40 being defined as malnutrition. The follow-up endpoint was cardiovascular death or all-cause death.

RESULTS

During the 36-month follow-up, survival rates for cardiovascular and all-cause death were significantly lower in the MS group than in the non-MS group (log-rank P < 0.01). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models showed that MS was independently associated with cardiovascular death (HR:1.759, 95%CI:1.351-2.291, p < 0.001) and all-cause death (HR:1.326, 95%CI:1.041-1.689, p = 0.022) in malnourished patients with HF. MS significantly increased the predictive value of cardiovascular death (AUC:0.669, 95%CI:0.623-0.715, p < 0.001) and all-cause death (AUC:0.636, 95%CI:0.585-0.687, p < 0.001) on the basis of established risk factors. The predictive effect of MS on cardiovascular death was independent of sex, age, functional class and left ventricular ejection fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

In malnourished patients with HF, MS is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. MS significantly enhance the predictive value for clinical events in patients.

Impact of malnutrition on the quality of life in older patients with advanced heart failure: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of malnutrition, the clinical characteristics associated with malnutrition and the impact of nutritional status on mortality, quality of life, self-care abilities, and activities of daily living in the older patients with advanced heart failure.

METHODS

A prospective multicentre cohort study including 260 community-dwelling elderly patients with advanced HF was conducted between June 2017 and December 2019. The study was carried out in 22 primary healthcare centres, three university hospitals, one acute-care hospital, and one geriatric rehabilitation unit in the city of Barcelona (Spain). Nutritional status was assessed at baseline using the Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire. Patient-reported outcome measures included quality of life (EQ-5D-3L), self-care behaviour (European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale) and impact on activities of daily living (Barthel Index).

RESULTS

Using the MNA-SF, 126 (48.5%) patients were identified as being at risk of malnutrition and 33 (12.7%) patients as having confirmed malnutrition. Compared to HF patients with normal nutritional status, patients with confirmed malnutrition were significantly older, with a lower BMI, and with reduced haemoglobin levels. During follow-up (median 14.9 months, Interquartile Range; 4.9-26.9), 133 (51.2%) of the included participants died, and mortality was significantly higher among patients identified as having malnutrition (p < 0.001). Better Barthel index and quality of life scores were inversely related to the risk of malnutrition, [Odds Ratio (OR) 0.97 (95% Confidence interval 0.96; 0.98) and OR 0.98 (95% Confidence interval, 0.96; 0.99)], respectively. Higher scores in the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale, which implies worse self care, were related to higher malnutrition risk, OR 1.05 (95% Confidence interval, 1.02; 1.09. Adjusted multivariate logistic model found that malnutrition was significantly associated with poor quality of life, and adverse impacts on daily activities and self-care.

CONCLUSIONS

In community-dwelling older patients with advanced HF, malnutrition was associated with worse patient reported outcome measures related to poor quality of life, and adverse impacts on self-care and daily activities. Nutritional status must be systematically addressed by primary care nurses and family doctors to improve survival rates in these patients. It would be helpful the incorporation of expert professionals in nutrition in the primary health care centres.

Prognostic value of preoperative geriatric nutritional risk index in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after hepatectomy: a single‑center retrospective cohort study

AIM

Patients with malignant tumors are prone to develop nutritional disorders. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a new prognostic indicator for assessing the nutritional status. This study was performed to evaluate whether the preoperative GNRI can serve as a prognostic factor in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) undergoing curative surgery.

METHODS

This study included 123 consecutive patients with ICC who were treated with curative surgery. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to calculate the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), and Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Of the 123 patients, 82 were male and 41 were female. The median age of the patients was 70 years, and the median follow-up period was 37.0 months (interquartile range, 16.2-71.7 months). The patients were classified by the median GNRI into a low GNRI group (GNRI < 105) and high GNRI group (GNRI ≥ 105). The patients in the low GNRI group had a significantly poorer prognosis in terms of RFS and OS than the patients in the high GNRI group (RFS, p = 0.0201; OS, p < 0.0001). Lymph node metastasis [hazard ratio (HR), 4.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.46-8.85], postoperative complications (HR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.32-4.31), and a low GNRI (HR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.42-4.50) were independent poor prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSION

The GNRI may be a useful prognostic indicator in patients with ICC undergoing curative hepatectomy.

Combination of the glycated hemoglobin levels and prognostic nutritional index as a prognostic marker in patients with acute coronary syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Increased susceptibility to malnutrition and inadequate glycemic control are frequently observed in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. The assessment of malnutrition is performed using the prognosis nutritional index (PNI). The inadequate glycemic control is measured using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). However, the combined effect of PNI and HbA1c on the prognosis in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease remains unknown.

METHODS

A study was conducted at Beijing Anzhen Hospital and included 2,005 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accompanied by acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from September 2021 to January 2022. Based on the median PNI and HbA1c, we categorized the patients into four groups including high (H)-PNI/low (L)-HbA1c, H-PNI/H-HbA1c, L-PNI/L-HbA1c, and L-PNI/H-HbA1c. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were the primary outcome, including all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and nonfatal strokes.

RESULTS

Throughout a median follow-up of 16.3 months, 73 patients had MACCE, which comprised 36 cases of all-cause mortality. In comparison to the H-PNI, the L-PNI showed an obvious rise in MACCE and all-cause mortality (log-rank P = 0.048 and 0.021, respectively) among the H-HbA1c group. Compared to the other groups, the L-PNI/H-HbA1c group exhibited the greatest risk of MACCE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-5.23, P = 0.014) and all-cause mortality (HR: 3.20, 95% CI 1.04-9.82, P = 0.042). With the addition of PNI, MACCE and all-cause mortality prediction models performed significantly better in patients with ACS and T2DM after PCI, particularly in those with H-HbA1c levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of L-PNI and H-HbA1c is a prognostic marker for MACCE and all-cause mortality in patients diagnosed with ACS and T2DM who underwent PCI. The PNI can serve as an assessment tool of malnutrition in patients with ACS and T2DM accompanied by H-HbA1c who underwent PCI. Therefore, monitoring the long-term change of the PNI deserves attention in clinical practice.

Nutritional Care for Adults in Nursing Homes: A Scoping Review

The need for improved nutrition in older adults requiring care has been acknowledged, but, to the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of systematic review and integration of nutritional care studies with older adults in nursing homes. This scoping review aimed to examine the scope and nature of nutritional care research for older adults in nursing homes and to identify research gaps, following the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute. We found varied nutritional care for older adults living in nursing homes, including individualized sessions, such as nutrition counseling, the addition of foods and preparations for increased nutritional intake, and the maintenance of an eating environment, such as feeding assistance and calling. The nutritional care identified in this scoping review also included studies that have improved the nutritional status of older adults in nursing homes by implementing educational programs for care staff. For future research on effective nutritional care for older adults in nursing homes, we suggest evaluating both short- and long-term intervention effects with an adequate sample size.

Women with Schizophrenia Have Difficulty Maintaining Healthy Diets for Themselves and Their Children: A Narrative Review

Severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia are inevitably linked to unemployment, meagre per capita income, and residence in disadvantaged, poorly resourced neighbourhoods. This means difficult access to healthy food and is particularly problematic for pregnant women and mothers with children to feed. The necessity of taking antipsychotic drugs is an additional barrier to healthy eating because these drugs are associated with serious cognitive, psychological, behavioural, and metabolic sequelae. Being ill with psychosis makes it extremely difficult to maintain a healthy diet; nutritional deficiencies result, as do medical complications. The results of present literature review confirm the gravity of the problem and suggest a number of potentially useful clinical interventions.

A comprehensive assessment of oral health, swallowing difficulty, and nutritional status in older nursing home residents

Declines in oral consumption and swallowing function are common reasons which may elevate the risk of malnutrition in the older adults. This study aimed to provide valuable information and contribute to the existing body of knowledge in this field as well as highlight the importance of a comprehensive assessment of oral health, swallowing function, and nutritional status in long-term care residents. This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty-nine participants were recruited from a nursing home. The comprehensive assessment was evaluated in participants, including oral health (Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT)), swallowing function (Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and Eating Assessment Tool (EAT)-10), and nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF). The average age of participants was 80.4 ± 11.7 years, and 46% of these older adults were found to be at the risk of malnutrition. There was a negative correlation between the OHAT and MNA-SF scores. In addition, subjects with poor oral health (OHAT score = 5~8), oral consumption of a modified diet (FOIS score = 4~6), and reduced swallowing function (EAT-10 score ≥ 3) were more likely to be at risk of malnutrition. A comprehensive evaluation of oral health and swallowing function was closely connected with the nutritional status of older nursing home dwellers.

Beneficial Effects of Oral Nutrition Supplements on the Nutritional Status and Physical Performance of Older Nursing Home Residents at Risk of Malnutrition

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of nutritional supplement drinks (NSDs) and nutritional education (NE) on the nutritional status and physical performance of older nursing home residents who were at risk of malnutrition. This study was a clustered, randomized, parallel, multi-center clinical trial, with 107 participants more than 65 years old and at risk of malnutrition recruited from several nursing homes in this study. Participants were divided into two groups: an NE group (n = 50) and an NSD group (n = 57). The NE group was given NE by a dietitian, while the NSD group was provided with two packs of NSD except receiving NE (Mei Balance, Meiji Holdings, Tokyo, Japan) per day as a snack between meals and before bed. Anthropometric data, blood pressure, nutritional status, blood biochemical biomarkers, and physical performance were measured before and after 12-week interventions. After 12 weeks of NE combined with NSD intervention, body weight, body-mass index, the mini nutritional assessment-short form (MNA-SF) score, walking speed, and SF-36 questionnaire score were improved in older nursing home residents at risk of malnutrition.

Prognostic value of pretreatment Controlling Nutritional Status score in esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis

Background and purpose: The association between the pretreatment Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients remains unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to further elucidate the prognostic role of the pretreatment CONUT score in esophageal cancer based on current evidence. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI databases were searched up to 27 September 2022. The primary and secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS)/cancer-specific survival (CSS), and the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled for analysis. Results: A total of 11 retrospective studies involving 3,783 participants were included. The pooled results demonstrated that a higher pretreatment CONUT score was significantly related to poor OS (HR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.31-2.54, p < 0.001), and subgroup analysis stratified by pathological type showed similar results. In addition, the pretreatment CONUT score was associated with poor PFS (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10-1.28, p < 0.001) and CSS (HR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.77-4.02, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The pretreatment CONUT score was predictive of worse prognosis in esophageal cancer, and patients with a higher CONUT score showed worse survival.

Malnutrition in hospitalized cancer patients: A single-center, cross-sectional study in Southern Vietnam

Objectives

Malnutrition in cancer patients reduces response to chemotherapy, increases the hospitalization costs, hospital infections, and deaths. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, level of malnutrition, and its related factors in cancer patients at a local hospital in Southern Vietnam.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on all 118 cancer patients who were undergoing inpatient treatment at Long An General Hospital, Vietnam from May to September 2020. Data were collected from patients by face-to-face interviewing using a subjective global assessment (SGA) and from medical records. Malnutrition is divided into three groups: SGA-A (normal), SGA-B (mild/moderate/suspected malnutrition), SGA-C (severe malnutrition). Multivariable logistic regression is used to identify factors related to malnutrition with statistical significance p < 0.05.

Results

Out of 118 participants, 72 (61.0%) were males and 84 (71.2%) aged ⩾60 years. The prevalence of malnutrition in cancer patients was 84.7% (100/118), in which 33% (39/118) were severe (SGA-C) and 51.7% (61/118) were mild-moderate (SGA-B). Pancreatic and lung cancers are the most malnourished. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the factors related to malnutrition in cancer patients were gastrointestinal symptoms lasting 2 weeks (odds ratio: 6.10, 95% confidence interval: 1.12-33.35), patients with decreased motor function (odds ratio: 13.73, 95% confidence interval: 2.56-73.86), blood albumin <35 g/l (odds ratio: 6.42, 95% confidence interval: 1.54-26.82), and blood lymphocyte ⩽ 1700 cells/mm³ (odds ratio: 5.36, 95% confidence interval: 1.31-21.97).

Conclusions

There was a high proportion of malnutrition in cancer patients. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen nutrition counseling and intervention for these patients, especially those that have prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms, reduced motor function, and low blood albumin or low blood lymphocytes.

Association between oral health markers and decline in muscle strength and physical performance in later life: longitudinal analyses of two prospective cohorts from the UK and the USA

BACKGROUND

Poor oral health could be associated with changes in musculoskeletal health over time. This aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal relationship between oral health and decline in physical function in later life.

METHODS

We did a prospective analysis of two cohorts of older adults (aged 70 years or older) including men from the British Regional Heart Study (BRHS; n=612), and men and women from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study (n=1572), followed up for about 8 years. Data were available for clinical or self-reported oral health measures, muscle (grip) strength, and physical performance (chair stand and gait speed). ANCOVA models were used to assess the association between oral health and follow-up physical function scores. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between oral health and decline in physical function over the follow-up period. In the BRHS, changes in oral health and physical function were also assessed. All models were adjusted for relevant sociodemographic, behavioural, and health-related factors.

FINDINGS

In the BRHS, complete tooth loss and difficulty eating were associated with weaker grip strength at follow-up, and periodontal status was associated with decline in gait speed. In the Health ABC Study, complete tooth loss, poor self-rated oral health, and the presence of one oral health problem were associated with slower gait speed at follow-up. In both studies, dry mouth was associated with declines in physical function. In the BRHS, deterioration of dentition (tooth loss) over the follow-up period was associated with decline in chair stand speed (adjusted odds ratio 2·34 [95% CI 1·20-4·46]), as was deterioration in difficulty eating (2·41 [1·04-5·60]).

INTERPRETATION

Oral health problems are associated with poorer physical function and greater decline in physical function in older adults, and could be an indicator of individuals at risk of reduced physical capacity and subsequent frailty and disability in later life.

FUNDING

The Dunhill Medical Trust and the US National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Change in Nutritional Status during Hospitalization and Prognosis in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

The impact of changes in nutritional status during hospitalization on prognosis in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains unknown. We examined the association between changes in the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and prognosis during hospitalization in patients with HFpEF stratified by nutritional status on admission. Nutritional status did and did not worsen in 348 and 349 of 697 patients with high GNRI on admission, and in 142 and 143 of 285 patients with low GNRI on admission, respectively. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed no difference in risk of the composite endpoint, all-cause death, or heart failure admission between patients with high GNRI on admission whose nutritional status did and did not worsen. In contrast, patients with low GNRI on admission whose nutritional status did not worsen had a significantly lower risk of the composite endpoint and all-cause death than those who did. Multivariable analysis revealed that worsening nutritional status was independently associated with a higher risk of the composite endpoint and all-cause mortality in patients with low GNRI on admission. Changes in nutritional status during hospitalization were thus associated with prognosis in patients with malnutrition on admission, but not in patients without malnutrition among those with HFpEF.

Validation of GLIM criteria on malnutrition in older Chinese inpatients

Objective

Malnutrition is a nutritional disorder and common syndrome that has a high incidence and is easily ignored in hospitalized older patients. It can lead to multiple poor prognoses, such as frailty. Early identification and correct evaluation of possible malnutrition and frailty are essential to improve clinical outcomes in older patients. Therefore, our objective was to explore the applicability and effectiveness of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria for identifying malnutrition in older patients.

Methods

In total, 223 participants aged ≥60 years were involved. Nutrition was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Full Form (MNA-FF) and GLIM criteria, which adopt a two-step procedure. The first step was to use three different methods for the screening of nutritional risk: the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002, the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), and the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool. The second step was to link a combination of at least one phenotypical criterion and one etiological criterion to diagnose malnutrition. The Clinical Frailty Scale was used to assess frailty. Sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, kappa values, and positive and negative predictive values were used to evaluate the validity of the GLIM criteria. Logistic regression models were used to assess whether there was a correlation between malnutrition, as defined by the GLIM criteria, and frailty.

Results

We found that 32.3–49.8% of our patient sample were at risk of malnutrition based on the GLIM diagnosis and using the three different screening tools; 19.3–27.8% of the patients were malnourished. GLIM criteria with MNA-SF as a diagnostic validation and MNA-FF as a reference showed high consistency (K = 0.629; p &lt; 0.001), sensitivity (90.5%), and specificity (86.4%). Logistic regression analysis showed that malnutrition, using MNA-SF with the GLIM criteria, was relevant for a higher likelihood of frailty (OR = 1.887; 95% CI 1.184–2.589).

Conclusions

The incidence of GLIM-defined malnutrition was 19.3–27.8% using different screening tools. The consistency between the GLIM criteria using the MNA-SF and the MNA methods was high. Malnutrition, as diagnosed by the GLIM criteria with MNA-SF, was significantly correlated with frailty. GLIM criteria with MNA-SF may be a more reliable malnutrition assessment process in older inpatients.

Disease-Related Malnutrition and Enteral Nutrition

There are many misconceptions surrounding the diagnosing and treatment of malnutrition and around feeding people with enteral nutrition (EN). Often the decisions made by clinicians are made from anecdote or guidelines that may be out of date or supported by low-quality evidence. In this article, we will discuss different aspects of diagnosing malnutrition and delve deeper into the science and evidence behind certain recommendations. Our goal is to better equip the reader with the most current data-supported recommendation, such as indications, contraindications, complications of EN, tube and ostomy complications, types and use of specialized enteral formulas, and home management.

Comparison of three malnutrition risk screening tools in identifying malnutrition according to Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria in gastrointestinal cancer

Background

Malnutrition is common in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The first step in the diagnosis of malnutrition is to evaluate the malnutrition risk by validated screening tools according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM). This study aimed to determine the best nutritional screening tool for identifying GLIM malnutrition and validate the performance of these tools in different age subgroups.

Materials and methods

We did a prospective cohort study of patients who were diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer from February 2016 to November 2019. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), negative predictive values (NPV), and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of three screening tools (Nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), MNA-SF) were calculated.

Results

A total of 488 patients were enrolled, and 138 patients (28.27%) were malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria. The consistency of NRS 2002, GNRI, and MNA-SF with GLIM-defined malnutrition was 74.8, 72.1, and 71.1%, respectively. In the subgroup analysis of young patients (<65 years), NRS 2002 exhibited the best discrimination with the AUC of 0.724 (95% CI, 0.567–0.882), the sensitivity of 64.3% (95% CI, 35.6–86.0), and the specificity of 80.6% (95% CI, 69.2–88.6). In patients older than 65 years, MNA-SF exhibited the best discrimination with the AUC of 0.764 (95% CI, 0.714–0.814), the sensitivity of 82.3% (95% CI, 74.1–88.3), and the specificity of 70.5% (95% CI, 64.7–75.7).

Conclusions

Nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002) is the best malnutrition screening tool in gastrointestinal cancer patients younger than 65 years, and MNA-SF is the best malnutrition screening tool in patients older than 65 years. It is necessary to select targeted nutritional screening tools according to the difference in age.

Plasma transthyretin is a nutritional biomarker in human morbidities

Transthyretin (TTR) is a small liver-secreted plasma protein that shows close correlations with changes in lean body mass (LBM) during the entire human lifespan and agglomerates the bulk of nitrogen (N)-containing substrates, hence constituting the cornerstone of body building. Amino acids (AAs) dietary restriction causes inhibition of TTR production and impairs the accretion of LBM reserves. Inflammatory disorders result in cytokine-induced abrogation of TTR synthesis and urinary leakage of nitrogenous catabolites. Taken together, the data indicate that malnutrition and inflammation may similarly suppress the production of TTR through distinct and unrelated pathophysiological mechanisms while operating in concert to downsize LBM stores. The hepatic synthesis of TTR integrates both machineries, acting as a marker of reduced LBM resources still available for defense and repair processes. TTR operates as a universal surrogate analyte that allows for the grading of residual LBM capacity to reflect disease burden. Measurement of TTR is a simple, rapid, and inexpensive micro-method that may be reproduced on a daily basis, hence ideally suited for the follow-up of the most intricated clinical situations and as a reliable predictor of any morbidity outcome.

Malnutrition Screening and Assessment

Malnutrition is a serious problem with a negative impact on the quality of life and the evolution of patients, contributing to an increase in morbidity, length of hospital stay, mortality, and health spending. Early identification is fundamental to implement the necessary therapeutic actions, involving adequate nutritional support to prevent or reverse malnutrition. This review presents two complementary methods of fighting malnutrition: nutritional screening and nutritional assessment. Nutritional risk screening is conducted using simple, quick-to-perform tools, and is the first line of action in detecting at-risk patients. It should be implemented systematically and periodically on admission to hospital or residential care, as well as on an outpatient basis for patients with chronic conditions. Once patients with a nutritional risk are detected, they should undergo a more detailed nutritional assessment to identify and quantify the type and degree of malnutrition. This should include health history and clinical examination, dietary history, anthropometric measurements, evaluation of the degree of aggression determined by the disease, functional assessment, and, whenever possible, some method of measuring body composition.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL SCREENING INSTRUMENTS IN HOSPITALIZED OLDER PATIENTS

ABSTRACT Background The prevalence of hospitalized elderly patients has grown substantially and has impacted the hospital health services. Thus, it is believed that an investigation of the nutritional status associated with different clinical situations in elderly patients could contribute to multidisciplinary hospital intervention and nutritional care actions suitable for this population. Objective To investigate the relationship between two nutritional screening instruments in hospitalized older patients and to compare clinical variables between these two instruments. Methods Retrospective study with hospitalized older patients (n=277), investigating the agreement between two nutritional screening instruments. The data were analyzed using the McNemar, chi-square, Fisher, Mann-Whitney tests and the kappa coefficient for the agreement assessment. Results There was a significant difference (P=0.0002) between the nutritional risk classifications of the two nutritional screening instruments and moderate agreement (k=0.5430) between them. The association between nutritional risk screening and age (P=0.0255), length of hospital stay (P<0.0001), gender (P=0.0365) and illness (P=0.0001) were assessed. There was an association between Mini Nutritional Assessment and length of stay (P<0.0001), illness (P=0.0001) and body weight evolution (P=0.0479). Conclusion The nutritional risk screening and Mini Nutritional Assessment showed moderate agreement in the assessment of elderly patients.

An extended version of the MNA-SF increases sensitivity in identifying malnutrition among community living older adults. Results from the PRONUTRISENIOR project

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is the most used tool to assess malnutrition and/or its risk among older adults. Its Screening section was proposed as a short form (MNA-SF) but studies comparing the two forms present controversial results. Our main aims were to study the agreement between MNA-SF and its full form (MNA-FF) among Portuguese older adults living in the community and to develop a more sensible version of the MNA-SF.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample of 456 older adults (54.2% females) aged 65-92 years (mean = 73; SD = 6). Data analyzed included: nutritional status (MNA), social support (Fillenbaum's Social Network Index), level of independency in daily activities (Lawton e Brody's scale) and eating-related quality of life. Both MNA-FF and MNA-SF classify participants as malnourished, at risk of malnutrition or with normal nutrition status. Anthropometric assessments (weight, height, arm and calf perimeters) were carried out and BMI was computed.

RESULTS

The agreement between the two classifications is 82.7%, but Cohen's k shows a weak agreement (weighted Cohen's k = 0.497; p < 0,001), and the sensitivity of the MNA-SF to detect malnutrition or its risk (as assessed by the MNA-FF) was 42.6% (despite a specificity of 98.8%). Participants classified as normal using the MNA-SF despite at risk using the MNA-FF present lower scores in two items from the Assessment section (number of full meals eaten daily and amount of fluid consumed per day). These were included in MNA-SF to obtain an extended short-version (MNA-SF8). The difference between the ROC curves for MNA-SF and MNA-SF8 justifies the preferential use of the MNA-SF8 with an estimated cut-off of 14 points, which showed high sensitivity (91.8%) and specificity (79.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of two items to the MNA-SF provides a more sensible tool to detect the risk of malnutrition among older adults. General eating-related questions seem relevant to assess malnutrition in this age group.

Comparing Assessment Tools as Candidates for Personalized Nutritional Evaluation of Senior Citizens in a Nursing Home

Nutrition is an important health issue for seniors. In nursing homes, simple, inexpensive, fast, and validated tools to assess nutritional risk/status are indispensable. A multisurvey cross-sectional study with a convenient sample was created, comparing five nutritional screening/assessment tools and the time required for each, in order to identify the most useful instrument for a nursing home setting. Nutrition risk/status was evaluated using the following tools: Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002), and calf girth (CG). The time spent completing each tool was recorded. Eighty-three subjects were included. MNA-SF and CG were the screening tools that ranked highest with regards to malnutrition identification. CG failed to identify nutritional risk/malnutrition in seniors with lower limb edema. CG was the fastest tool while SGA was the slowest. This was the first study comparing non-invasive nutritional tools with time expended as a consideration in the implementation. CG is responsive, fast, and reliable in elders without edema. MNA-SF was more efficient at detecting malnutrition cases in the elderly population. Both MNA-SF and CG are considered the most suitable for the nursing home setting.

The Relationship between Nutritional Status and Body Composition with Clinical Parameters, Tumor Stage, CA19-9, CEA Levels in Patients with Pancreatic and Periampullary Tumors

Recent studies have obtained inadequate data on the association between nutritional status, body composition, clinical parameters and tumor stage in patients withpancreatic and periampullary tumors. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between nutritional status (NS), body composition (BC) and selected clinical parameters in patients with pancreatic and periampullary cancer, as well as describe the differences between resection and non-resection groups. This is a prospective study of 76 patients with pancreatic and periampullary tumors. We evaluated NS, BMI, body mass loss (BML) and albumin, total protein, CRP, CEA, CA19-9, lipase, amylase, tumor stage, and BC using bioelectrical impedance (BIA). All subjects were divided into resection (n = 59) and non-resection (n = 17) groups. The non-resection group had a worse NS, as well as increased amylase and WBC, compared to the resection. The selected parameters of BC corresponded to BML albumin, TP, NS, age, BMI, Karnofsky, RBC, HCT and HGB. No associations were found between BC with tumor size, CRP, CA19-9, and CEA. We recorded the relationship between metastasis and NRS, as well as tumor size with SGA. The percentage of BML was positively correlated with age and CRP but negatively correlated with RBC, HGB, HCT and anthropometric measurements. We found many statistical correlations with NS and selected parameters, as well as differences between the resection and non-resection group. The detection of early prognostic factors of nutritional impairments would improve the quality of life and reduce the rate of postoperative complications.

Risk Factors for Malnutrition among IBD Patients

(1) Background: Malnutrition is a highly prevalent complication in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). It is strongly associated with poor clinical outcomes and quality of life. Screening for malnutrition risk is recommended routinely; however, current malnutrition screening tools do not incorporate IBD specific characteristics and may be less adequate for screening these patients. Therefore, we aimed to identify IBD-related risk factors for development of malnutrition. (2) Methods: A retrospective case-control study among IBD patients attending the IBD clinic of the Tel-Aviv Medical Center for ≥2 consecutive physician consultations per year during 2017-2020. Cases who had normal nutritional status and developed malnutrition between visits were compared to matched controls who maintained normal nutritional status. Detailed information was gathered from medical files, including: demographics, disease phenotype, characteristics and activity, diet altering symptoms and comorbidities, medical and surgical history, annual healthcare utility, nutritional intake and the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) score. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify malnutrition risk factors. The independent risk factors identified were summed up to calculate the IBD malnutrition risk score (IBD-MR). (3) Results: Data of 1596 IBD patients met the initial criteria for the study. Of these, 59 patients developed malnutrition and were defined as cases (n = 59) and matched to controls (n = 59). The interval between the physician consultations was 6.2 ± 3.0 months, during which cases lost 5.3 ± 2.3 kg of body weight and controls gained 0.2 ± 2.3 kg (p < 0.001). Cases and controls did not differ in demographics, disease duration, disease phenotype or medical history. Independent IBD-related malnutrition risk factors were: 18.5 ≤ BMI ≤ 22 kg/m² (OR = 4.71, 95%CI 1.13-19.54), high annual healthcare utility (OR = 5.67, 95%CI 1.02-31.30) and endoscopic disease activity (OR = 5.49, 95%CI 1.28-23.56). The IBD-MR was positively associated with malnutrition development independently of the MUST score (OR = 7.39, 95%CI 2.60-20.94). Among patients with low MUST scores determined during the index visit, identification of ≥2 IBD-MR factors was strongly associated with malnutrition development (OR = 8.65, 95%CI 2.21-33.82, p = 0.002). (4) Conclusions: We identified IBD-related risk factors for malnutrition, highlighting the need for a disease-specific malnutrition screening tool, which may increase malnutrition risk detection.

Increased nutrition-related risk as an independent predictor of the incidence of hypoglycemia in the hospitalized older individuals with type 2 diabetes: a single-center cohort study

Background and aims

There are few reports on the association between malnutrition and hypoglycemia. The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) allows risk classification by morbidity and mortality resulting from conditions often associated with malnutrition in older individuals. However, the association between GNRI and hypoglycemia is unclear. This study examined the associations between nutrition-related risk and hypoglycemia among older individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) using diabetes medication.

Methods

This single-center historical cohort study included hospitalized patients aged ≥ 65 years with T2D on medication. Nutrition-related risk was assessed using the GNRI and classified into four risk groups. Hypoglycemia and serious hypoglycemia were determined by oral or intravenous glucose intake and blood glucose < 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL) as hypoglycemia, among them blood glucose < 3.0 mmol/L (54 mg/dL) as serious hypoglycemia. Data were recorded at least once during hospitalization.

Results

Patients who met the criteria (n = 1.754) were included in the study. The participants median age was 75.0 years. During the study, 81 patients (4.6%) experienced hypoglycemia and 7 patients (0.4%) experienced serious hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia was observed in patients in the major risk (16.0%), moderate risk (9.7%), low risk (5.2%), and no risk (1.5%) groups (p for trend < 0.001). After adjusting for other risk factors, the hazard ratios of hypoglycemic among people with major, moderate, and low risk were 5.50, 3.86, and 2.55, respectively.

Conclusions

Hypoglycemia increased with increasing nutrition-related risk among older individuals with T2D using diabetes medication. The GNRI is a simple and useful assessment tool in the clinical setting.

Efficacy of the pretreatment geriatric nutritional risk index for predicting severe adverse events in patients with head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy: Efficacy of the pretreatment Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index for predicting severe adverse events

OBJECTIVE

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a simple and well-established nutritional assessment tool. Although concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), particularly cisplatin-based CCRT, is a standard treatment for locoregional advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the predictive factors of adverse events related to CCRT remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the association between GNRI and CCRT-related adverse events in patients of all ages with head and neck cancer (HNC) who underwent CCRT.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed and compared the clinical characteristics and adverse events of 82 patients with HNC treated with CCRT according to their GNRI at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tsukuba Hospital, between May 2014 and November 2019. The GNRI was calculated according to the equation: 1.489 × serum albumin (g/L) + 41.7 × (body weight/ideal body weight). We compared two groups: low GNRI (GNRI < 98) and normal GNRI (GNRI ≥ 98) groups.

RESULTS

Eighty-two patients were enrolled in this study. There were 61 (76%) and 21 (26%) patients in the normal GNRI group and low GNRI group, respectively. There were significant differences in the incidence of grade ≥ 3 radiation mucositis, radiation dermatitis, and leukopenia between the low GNRI group and the normal GNRI groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with low GNRI scores were more likely to have severe adverse events. Pretreatment GNRI predicted severe CCRT-related adverse events in patients of all ages with HNC undergoing CCRT.

Nutrition strategies for pressure injury management: Implementing the 2019 International Clinical Practice Guideline

Nutrition is an important component in the prevention and treatment of pressure injuries (PIs). The skin is the largest organ of the body, and macronutrients and micronutrients in specific amounts are required to maintain and repair body tissues. The European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel, and the Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: 2019 Clinical Practice Guideline includes nutrition recommendations for PI management. This manuscript identifies the key nutrients required for wound healing, reviews the evidence in the 2019 nutrition recommendations, and translates the recommendations provided into key points to be incorporated into policy and practice that impact patient outcomes.

The influence of anaemia on pressure ulcer healing in elderly patients

Anaemia is a common and multifactorial blood disorder in elderly individuals. This condition may be a significant barrier to pressure ulcers healing as it is associated with a decreased level of oxygen being supplied to body tissues. Some nutritional deficiencies such as iron, vitamin B12 and folate may also cause anaemia and have a negative impact on pressure ulcer healing. An increased iron demand in hard-to-heal pressure ulcers is a significant factor associated with the risk of anaemia of chronic disease in elderly patients. Anaemia screening and correction may need to be considered as well as iron supplementation if required in pressure ulcer prevention and management.

Good performance of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria for diagnosing and classifying malnutrition in people with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the performance of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria for malnutrition assessment in people with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy.

METHODS

A prospective institutional database of 212 patients with esophageal cancer was reviewed for malnutrition assessment using the GLIM criteria. Perioperative metabolic characteristics, postoperative morbidities, and survival outcomes were investigated for GLIM-defined malnutrition. The performance of the two-step approach in implementing the GLIM criteria was evaluated.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-nine patients were identified. The preoperative proportions of moderate and severe malnutrition diagnosed by the GLIM criteria were 45.0% and 30.7%, respectively. Patients with severe malnutrition showed lower levels of serum albumin, prealbumin, and total lymphocyte count on postoperative days 1, 3, and 5 (all Ps < 0.05). Severe malnutrition was not only predictive of overall complications (odds ratio, 8.75; P < 0.001), major complications (odds ratio, 15.6; P < 0.001), and delayed hospital discharge (odds ratio, 7.38; P = 0.001) but was also associated with poor overall and disease-free survival (respectively: hazard ratio, 3.75; P = 0.015; and hazard ratio, 4.18; P = 0.028). Notably, patients with severe malnutrition were more clinically impaired than those with moderate malnutrition. Regarding the two-step approaches, the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool and Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 simplified malnutrition assessments using the GLIM criteria, and the prognostic nutritional index promoted the clinical significance of the GLIM criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

The GLIM criteria showed good performance in diagnosing and classifying malnutrition in people with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, and prognostic nutritional index could be appropriately used to implement the two-step approach to the GLIM criteria.

Health concerns regarding malnutrition among the older populations: considerations from a Slovenian perspective

Diet is an important factor in a healthy lifestyle for all age groups. However, with aging it is important to be aware that the diet, due to changed physiology, needs an accordingly adjusted and balanced daily regime. This article reviews the field of older population's nutrition and presents: the most common nutritional disorders, causes, demographics and malnutrition measurement tools. Relevant scientific literature as well as professional Slovenian papers were identified through specific searches with topic-related keywords in EBSCO, PubMed, Web of Science and COBISS databases. The results of the identified papers are subsequently discussed in a descriptive narrative. The reviewed literature shows noticeable trends of high proportions of malnutrition among older persons, both globally and in Slovenia: predominantly observed are overnutrition like overweight and obese, but as well, and often unnoticed, undernutrition. The latter is more worrying, as inadequate knowledge in health care institutions regarding nutritional screening tools and measures to prevent drastic forms of undernutrition, seem to facilitate these trends. Though there are many reasons for insufficient food intake in older people, the article formulates considerations that can feed appropriate education and awareness programs, and through correct screening point to timely identification of malnourished individuals and those with risk of malnutrition. The promotion and implementation of such considerations could prevent malnutrition among the older population, reduce the frequency of nutritional disorders and co-morbidities, and generally improve the nutritional status of the older population, thus, provide better quality of health later in life.

Different muscle mass indices of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition in diagnosing malnutrition and predicting survival of patients with gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

Malnutrition is common and related to negative prognosis in patients with gastric cancer (GC). The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM), a novel consensus for the diagnosis of malnutrition, was proposed recently. However, the roles of GLIM in diagnosing malnutrition and predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with GC have been unclear.

METHOD

We conducted a multicenter, observational cohort study including 877 hospitalized patients with GC 2013 through 2018. Different anthropometric measurements were compared to assess reduced muscle mass. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression were used to analyze the relationship between GLIM-defined malnutrition and the OS of patients with GC. Independent prognostic variables were incorporated to develop a nomogram for individualized survival prediction. The calibration curve was used to determine the predictive accuracy and discriminatory capacity of the nomogram. In addition, 219 patients with GC were enrolled for external validation.

RESULTS

A total of 464 (53%) patients with GC were diagnosed with malnutrition. Patients diagnosed with severe malnutrition based on either midarm circumference or body weight-standardized hand grip strength had a shorter median survival time (16.7 mo; interquartile range, 8.4-32.7 mo) and a higher hazard ratio (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.15-1.92; P = 0.002). Severe malnutrition was an independent risk factor for OS (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.02-1.71; P = 0.038). The GLIM nomogram showed good performance in predicting 3-y survival in patients with GC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the effectiveness of GLIM in diagnosing malnutrition and predicting OS in patients with GC.

Coronavirus Disease 19 from the Perspective of Ageing with Focus on Nutritional Status and Nutrition Management-A Narrative Review

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (COVID-19) has hit older adults harder due to a combination of age-related immunological and metabolic alterations. The aim of this review was to analyze the COVID-19 literature with respect to nutritional status and nutrition management in older adults. No studies only on people aged 65+ years were found, and documentation on those 80+ was rare. Age was found to be strongly associated with worse outcomes, and with poor nutritional status. Prevalence of malnutrition was high among severely and critically ill patients. The studies found a need for nutrition screening and management, and for nutrition support as part of follow-up after a hospital stay. Most tested screening tools showed high sensitivity in identifying nutritional risk, but none were recognized as best for screening older adults with COVID-19. For diagnosing malnutrition, the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria are recommended but were not used in the studies found. Documentation of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in relation to nutritional status is missing in older adults. Other COVID-19-associated factors with a possible impact on nutritional status are poor appetite and gastrointestinal symptoms. Vitamin D is the nutrient that has attracted the most interest. However, evidence for supplementation of COVID-19 patients is still limited and inconclusive.

Application of four nutritional risk indexes in perioperative management for esophageal cancer patients

Purpose

The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score were devised for quantifying nutritional risk. This study evaluated their properties in detecting compromised nutrition and guiding perioperative management of esophageal cancer patients.

Methods

A prospective institutional database of esophageal cancer patients was reviewed and analyzed. Compromised nutritional status was defined as PNI < 50, NRI < 97.5, GNRI < 92, or CONUT score ≥ 4, respectively. The malnutrition diagnosis consensus established by the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN 2015) was selected as reference. Multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used. External validation was conducted.

Results

After reviewing the 212-patient database, 192 patients were finally included. Among the four nutritional indexes, the GNRI < 92 showed highest sensitivity (72.0%), specificity (78.9%), and consistency (AUC 0.754, 95% CI 0.672–0.836) with malnutrition diagnosed by ESPEN 2015. The GNRI < 92 showed comparable performance with ESPEN 2015 in recognizing decreased fat mass, fat-free mass, and skeletal muscle mass (all P < 0.01). Both the GNRI < 92 and ESPEN 2015 showed good property in predicting major complications, infectious complications, overall complications and delayed hospital discharge (all P < 0.01), better than PNI < 50, NRI < 97.5, and CONUT score ≥ 4. Regarding the external validation, a retrospective analysis of 155 esophageal cancer patients confirmed the better performance of GNRI < 92 in predicting perioperative morbidities than other 3 nutritional indexes.

Conclusion

The GNRI was optimal in perioperative management of esophageal cancer patients among the four nutritional indexes and was an appropriate alternative to ESPEN 2015 for simplifying nutritional assessment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00432-021-03585-8.

Nutritional Assessment in Older Adults : MNA® 25 years of a Screening Tool and a Reference Standard for Care and Research; What Next?

A tool to assess nutritional status in older persons was really needed. It took 5 years to design the MNA® (Mini Nutrition Assessment) tool, complete the first validations studies both in Europe and in the U.S. and to publish it. After the full MNA®, the MNA® short form and the self-MNA® have been validated. As well as Chinese and other national MNA® forms. Now more than 2000 clinical research have used the MNA® all over the world from community care to hospital. At least 22 Expert groups included the MNA® in new clinical practice guidelines, national or international registries. The MNA® is presently included in almost all geriatric and nutrition textbook and part of the teaching program for medicine and other health care professional worldwide. The urgent need is to target the frail older adults more likely to have weight loss and poor appetite and to prevent frailty and weight loss in the robust. We present in this paper the review of 25 years of clinical research and practice using the MNA® worldwide.

The Role of Nutrition for Pressure Injury Prevention and Healing: The 2019 International Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendations

GENERAL PURPOSE

To review the nutrition-related recommendations presented in the 2019 European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel, and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline with further discussion of nutrition for pressure injury management in the context of the recommendations.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES

After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to:1. Distinguish nutrition and malnutrition, especially as they relate to the development and healing of pressure injuries.2. Differentiate the tools and techniques that help clinicians assess nutrition status as well as the causes of pressure injuries in specific populations.3. Identify interventions for improving nutrition status and promoting pressure injury healing.

ABSTRACT

Macro- and micronutrients are required by each organ system in specific amounts to promote the growth, development, maintenance, and repair of body tissues. Specifically, nutrition plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of pressure injuries. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the nutrition-related recommendations presented in the 2019 European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel, and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. Nutrition for pressure injury management is discussed in the context of the recommendations.

Pressure Injuries Among Critical Care Patients

Nutrition is an important component in the prevention and treatment of pressure injuries. Although the point at which insufficient nutrient consumption affects the body's capability to support skin integrity has not been demarcated, what is known is that reduced intake of food and fluids/water and weight loss can increase the risk of developing pressure injuries. Protein and its building blocks, amino acids, are essential for tissue growth and repair during all phases of wound healing. Sufficient macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fats, and water) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are vital for the body to support tissue integrity and prevent breakdown.