Work

Nutrition disorders and related conditions—Prevalence, overlap and relation to one year survival in geriatric patients

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Objectives To investigate the overlap between the nutrition disorders (malnutrition, low-intake dehydration, obesity) and nutrition related conditions (frailty, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity), and the significance of each of these and their combinations for survival among older patients admitted to geriatric care. Methods This exploratory study was based on a cross-sectional study with 100 patients (≥65 years) admitted to two geriatric departments. Data was retrieved from the Electronic Patient Record. Malnutrition was defined according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria with no prior screening. A low-intake dehydration equation, using proxy urea, was applied. Obesity was diagnosed at BMI > 29.9 kg/m 2 . Frailty was assessed by Clinical Frailty Scale, whereas sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the European Working Group of Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). Sarcopenic obesity was defined as the combination of sarcopenia and obesity. Mortality was recorded up to one year after discharge. Main findings The nutrition disorders and nutrition related conditions displayed considerable overlaps, and the prevalences were; frailty 67%, low-intake dehydration 62%, malnutrition 58%, sarcopenia 30%, obesity 13%, and sarcopenic obesity 0%. Higher numbers of nutrition disorders and nutrition related conditions combined, and malnutrition (according to GLIM) alone, were related to decreased one-year survival as show in Kaplan Meier plots. Conclusion The prevalence and overlap of the nutrition disorders; malnutrition, and low-intake dehydration and the nutrition related conditions; frailty and sarcopenia were high in patients acutely admitted to geriatric departments. Increasing number of nutrition disorders and nutrition related conditions combined, and malnutrition alone were associated with decreased survival.

Source: The journal of nutrition health & aging

DOI: 10.1016/j.jnha.2025.100682