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Mini Nutritional Assessment in elderly subjects receiving home nursing care
Author(s) -
Saletti A.,
Johansson L.,
Cederholm T.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-277x.1999.00178.x
Subject(s) - medicine , malnutrition , underweight , body mass index , anthropometry , diabetes mellitus , nursing homes , pediatrics , gerontology , physical therapy , overweight , nursing , endocrinology
Summary Background : Old age and disease are risk factors for malnutrition. We assessed the nutritional status in elderly receiving home nursing care. Methods : Eighty people (86% women) over the ages of 70 years (mean±SD 84±6) were investigated. One‐third had lung and/or cardiovascular disease, 10% had diabetes mellitus and the remainder had miscellaneous disorders. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scale (0–30 points), consisting of 18 point‐weighted questions, including anthropometry, e.g. body mass index (BMI, kg m −2 ), was used. Results : Fifty patients (62%) were assessed as having suspected malnutrition (MNA 17–23.5 points), while two were assessed as being malnourished (MNA < 17 points). The mean BMI was 22.7±5. One third of the subjects had BMI values <20 and 64% had BMI ≤ 23. Patients with cardiac failure and/or lung disease had the lowest MNA values (20.9±3.3 points) and 85% of these patients were assessed as being at risk for malnourishment. More than half drank ≤1 L of fluid per day. Over half of those who were malnourished or were suspected to be malnourished did not have meal support, whereas almost half of the well‐nourished patients had meal support. Conclusion : Two‐thirds of the patients receiving home nursing care were assessed as having suspected or confirmed malnutrition, or were underweight. Nutritional routines may need more focus within home nursing care services.