Nutritional status in older people - An explorative analysis. 2021

Stina Engelheart, and Daniela Andrén, and Dirk Repsilber, and Heléne Bertéus Forslund, and Robert Jan Brummer
School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. Electronic address: stina.engelheart@oru.se.

The nutritional status is seldom defined in general, but is considered to be important throughout life span, especially in times of diseases and disabilities. We previously proposed a theoretical model of the nutritional status from a functional perspective [1], however without proposing a definition of the nutritional status. The model comprises four domains that might affect the nutritional and functional status in a bidirectional way. These four domains are: Food and nutrition; Health and somatic disorders; Physical function and capacity; and Cognitive, affective, and sensory function. This study contributes to the existing literature and knowledge by empirically analysing patterns and relationships of possible nutritional status indicators within and between the four domains. This study is based on a sample of 69 men and women; older than 65 years, receiving home health care. They were followed up for three years. A broad set of nutritional status indicators in the participants were assessed in their home yearly. Given the small sample size and large number of variables, we used both correlation and factor analysis to explore patterns of nutritional status indicators within the four domains and relationships between the four domains suggested by the theoretical model of nutritional status which we proposed earlier. At baseline, between 4 and 18 components were extracted from the four domains, separately, using factor analysis. The first three components of each domain (called main components) were correlated (p < 0.05) with at least one of the main components of each of the other three domains (r = -0.34-0.79 at baseline, 0.38-0.74 at year 1, 0.40-0.77 at year 2 and 0.47-0.71 at year 3). At baseline, these main components explained, respectively, 31%, 52%, 57% and 63% of the sample variation in the four domains. This remained stable throughout all three years of follow up. In all four domains, there were statistically significant differences in prevalence of malnutrition, frailty, sarcopenia, and dehydration (all different inadequate nutritional status) between individuals' individual component scores. This study provides empirical evidence for the relationship between nutritional status indicators within and between the four domains suggested by our theoretical model of nutritional status. Components in all four domains were associated with inadequate nutritional status, highlighting that a wide perspective of the nutritional status assessment is necessary to be applied in clinical practice.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009752 Nutritional Status State of the body in relation to the consumption and utilization of nutrients. Nutrition Status,Status, Nutrition,Status, Nutritional
D005260 Female Females
D006699 Home Care Services Community health and NURSING SERVICES providing coordinated multiple services to the patient at the patient's homes. These home-care services are provided by a visiting nurse, home health agencies, HOSPITALS, or organized community groups using professional staff for care delivery. It differs from HOME NURSING which is provided by non-professionals. Domiciliary Care,Home Health Care,Care Services, Home,Home Care,Services, Home Care,Care, Domiciliary,Care, Home,Home Care Service,Service, Home Care
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000073496 Frailty A state of increased vulnerability to stressors, following declines in function and reserves across multiple physiologic systems, characterized by MUSCLE WEAKNESS; FATIGUE; slowed motor performance; low physical activity; and unintentional weight loss. Debility,Frailness,Frailty Syndrome,Debilities,Frailties
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D015596 Nutrition Assessment Evaluation and measurement of nutritional variables in order to assess the level of nutrition or the NUTRITIONAL STATUS of the individual. NUTRITION SURVEYS may be used in making the assessment. Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI),Assessment, Nutrition,Mini Nutrition Assessment,Mini Nutritional Assessment,Nutrition Assessments,Nutrition Index,Nutrition Indexes,Nutrition Indices,Nutritional Assessment,Nutritional Index,Prognostic Nutritional Index,Assessment, Mini Nutrition,Assessment, Mini Nutritional,Assessment, Nutritional,Assessments, Mini Nutrition,Assessments, Mini Nutritional,Assessments, Nutrition,Assessments, Nutritional,Index, Nutrition,Index, Nutritional,Index, Prognostic Nutritional,Index, Prognostic Nutritional (PNI),Indexes, Nutrition,Indices, Nutrition,Indices, Nutritional,Indices, Prognostic Nutritional,Indices, Prognostic Nutritional (PNI),Mini Nutrition Assessments,Mini Nutritional Assessments,Nutrition Assessment, Mini,Nutrition Assessments, Mini,Nutritional Assessment, Mini,Nutritional Assessments,Nutritional Assessments, Mini,Nutritional Index, Prognostic,Nutritional Index, Prognostic (PNI),Nutritional Indices,Nutritional Indices, Prognostic,Nutritional Indices, Prognostic (PNI),Prognostic Nutritional Indices,Prognostic Nutritional Indices (PNI)
D044342 Malnutrition An imbalanced nutritional status resulting from insufficient intake of nutrients to meet normal physiological requirement. Malnourishment,Nutritional Deficiency,Undernutrition,Malnourishments,Nutritional Deficiencies

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