Open AccessAssociation between transient appetite loss and vitamin B1 deficiency in elderly patients with suspected deficiency
Author(s) -
Ohta Ryuichi,
Ryu Yoshinori,
Hattori Shuzo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of general and family medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2189-7948
DOI - 10.1002/jgf2.404
Subject(s) - medicine , appetite , vitamin d deficiency , weight loss , odds ratio , body mass index , poor appetite , logistic regression , vitamin , pediatrics , vitamin d and neurology , obesity
Background There is scarce evidence associating vitamin B1 levels and appetite loss duration in elderly patients with suspected B1 deficiency. We aimed to investigate this association in elderly hospitalized patients with suspected vitamin B1 deficiency in rural Japan. Methods This cross‐sectional study evaluated 309 elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years) admitted to one rural Hospital between April 2017 and March 2019. We collected data on vitamin B1 level, age, sex, body mass index, albumin levels, area of residence, long‐term care, dependent conditions, activities of daily living, Charlson comorbidity index, and appetite loss from the patients' electronic medical records. Vitamin B1 deficiency was defined as serum vitamin B1 levels <20 μg/dL. Data were analyzed using the Mann‐Whitney U , Student's t , and chi‐square tests, followed by multivariable logistic regression, to examine the association between vitamin B1 deficiency and appetite loss. Results Eighty‐eight (28.5%) patients had vitamin B1 deficiency. In multivariable logistic regression, appetite loss (for both < 1 and > 1 week) before admission to the hospital showed a significant association with vitamin B1 deficiency (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =10.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.16‐22.00, P < .001; and AOR = 5.77, 95% CI: 2.88‐11.50, P < .001, respectively). Conclusions Appetite loss is associated with vitamin B1 deficiency in elderly Japanese patients living in rural areas. Therefore, physicians should be aware of the possibility of vitamin B1 deficiency in elderly patients with appetite loss and focus on early intervention.