Prevalence of Malnutrition in a Group of Institutionalized Psychogeriatric Patients Using Different Diagnostic Criteria.

Malnutrition (MN) is a highly prevalent condition in the elderly. It is associated with functional impairment, disability, frailty, and sarcopenia. The aim was to analyze the capacity of GLIM and ESPEN criteria to diagnose MN in a sample of institutionalized psychogeriatric patients. Clinical and anthropometric data were collected in a cross-sectional study. Patients' frailty, dependence, functional capacity, MNA, hand-grip strength (HS), and sarcopenia were evaluated. Body composition (BC) was estimated by conventional bioimpedance analysis. MN diagnosis was established using the ESPEN and the GLIM criteria based on fat-free mass index (GLIM-FFMI), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (GLIM-ASMMI), skeletal muscle mass index (GLIM-SMMI), and HS (mGLIM). Ninety-two patients (57.6% men; mean age: 79.4 years) were studied. Depending on the diagnosis criteria, MN prevalence was between 25% (ESPEN) and 41.3% (GLIM-SMMI). Agreement between ESPEN and all GLIM criteria was poor, but it was excellent between all GLIM criteria (kappa > 0.8). Phenotypic criteria carried more weight in the diagnosis of MN than etiological ones. Depending on the parameter used, the prevalence of reduced muscle mass was notably different. Differences in BMI, BC, inflammation, and albumin are detected by the GLIM-FFMI criteria in the MN and non-MN subjects. Also, this criterion is the only one that identified differences in phase angle (PhA) between these groups. In the elderly, PhA can be very useful to monitor nutritional status.

Comparación de ambos criterios diagnósticos de malnutrición ESPEN y GLIM en pacientes institucionalizados / Comparison of both ESPEN and GLIM diagnostic criteria for malnutrition in institutionalized patients

Introducción: La malnutrición relacionada con la enfermedad es un problema de alta prevalencia que continúa provocando graves repercusiones clínicas sobre los pacientes institucionalizados. La falta de un acuerdo mundial sobre los criterios de diagnóstico nutricional que deben aplicarse en el entorno clínico compromete la detección y el abordaje nutricional. En este estudio se pretende evaluar el índice de malnutrición en la institución hospitalaria, definir la validez de los criterios GLIM y ESPEN y determinar el criterio de referencia para el diagnóstico nutricional en la práctica clínica. Metodología: Estudio transversal, descriptivo desarrollado en un hospital de larga estancia en una muestra de 314 pacientes. Se analizó el diagnóstico nutricional mediante los criterios ESPEN y GLIM. Se evaluó la sensibilidad, especificidad y concordancia entre ambos criterios para determinar la validez de su uso en la práctica clínica. Resultados: La prevalencia de malnutrición fue del 58% según ESPEN y 78% en base a GLIM, siendo severa en el 24% de los pacientes y moderada en el 76%. La concordancia entre ESPEN y GLIM fue moderada (I. kappa: 0,325). Los criterios GLIM mostraron una sensibilidad buena (93,75%) y una especificad deficiente (38,32%). Por el contrario, los criterios ESPEN definieron una sensibilidad regular (61,4%) y una buena especificidad (85,4%). Conclusiones: Ambos criterios diagnósticos ESPEN y GLIM serían adecuados para la evaluación del diagnóstico nutricional en la práctica clínica. Sin embargo, los criterios GLIM resultan de mayor validez al identificar precozmente individuos en proceso de malnutrición. (AU)

Introduction: Disease-related malnutrition is a problem of high prevalence that continues to cause serious clinical repercussions on institutionalized patients. The lack of global agreement on the nutritional diagnostic criteria to be applied in the clinical setting compromises the detection and nutritional approach. This study intends to evaluate the malnutrition index in the hospital institution, define the validity of the GLIM and ESPEN criteria and determine the reference criterion for nutritional diagnosis in clinical practice. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted in a long-stay hospital in a sample of 314 patients. Nutritional diagnosis was analyzed using ESPEN and GLIM criteria. The sensitivity, specificity and concordance between both criteria were evaluated to determine the validity of their use in clinical practice. Key results: The prevalence of malnutrition was 58% according to ESPEN and 78% based on GLIM, being severe in 24% of patients and moderate in 76%. The agreement between ESPEN and GLIM was moderate (I. kappa: 0.325). The GLIM criteria showed good sensitivity (93.75%) and poor specificity (38.32%). In contrast, the ESPEN criteria defined regular sensitivity (61.4%) and good specificity (85.4%). Conclusions: Both ESPEN and GLIM diagnostic criteria would be suitable for the evaluation of nutritional diagnosis in clinical practice. However, the GLIM criteria are more valid when identifying individuals in the process of malnutrition early. (AU)

May nutritional status worsen during hospital stay? A sub-group analysis from a cross-sectional study.

Hospital malnutrition is a detrimental prognostic factor regarding hospital mortality, complications, and length of stay. However, the role of hospitalization itself on nutritional status has not been fully elucidated. We report the results of a secondary analysis from the dataset of a recent cross-sectional study at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Data from patients evaluated at admission and discharge were collected and compared. One hundred thirty-nine patients were evaluated. Mean length of stay was 13.6 (± 7.7) days. Patients at risk of malnutrition, according to NRS-2002, were 75 (53.9%), while 63 (45.3%) were malnourished according to ESPEN Criteria. Compared to admission, at discharge, patients reported a significant decrease in Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC)-from 26.5 cm (± 3.6) to 25.9 cm (± 3.7) (p = 0.016), a reduction in Phase angle (PhA)-from 4.25° (± 1.20) to 4.01° (± 1.15) (p = 0.005), fat-free mass (FFM)-from 47.5 kg (± 9.19) to 44.9 kg (± 9.4) (p = 0.03) and fat-free mass index (FFMI)-from 16.9 kg/m2 (± 2.3) to 15.8 kg/m2 (± 2.7) (p = 0.04). Laboratory data showed a reduction of albumin-from 29.2 (± 5.7) to 28.0 (± 5.9) (p = 0.01) and Onodera's PNI- from 29.1 (± 5.6) to 27.6 kg (± 5.6) (p = 0.039). At the multivariate linear regression analysis, the variables significantly associated with a worsening of PhA at discharge are the PhA value at admission and the diagnosis of malnutrition according to ESPEN Criteria. Hospitalization leads to significative changes in nutritional status. A clinical concern should be raised about the quality of hospital food and meal times and on the need for a clinical nutritionist on the ward.

Risk, prevalence, and impact of hospital malnutrition in a Tertiary Care Referral University Hospital: a cross-sectional study.

Hospital malnutrition is still underestimated among physicians, even in internal medicine settings. This is a cross-sectional study, aiming to estimate the risk, the prevalence and the impact of malnutrition in an Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Department of a large Italian hospital (Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome). Patients were evaluated within 72 h from admission according to Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 (NRS-2002) and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) Criteria. Anthropometric, laboratory tests and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) derived phase angle were also performed. Length of hospital stay (LOS) and in-hospital mortality were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to correlate nutritional status with LOS and hospital mortality. In 10 months, 300 patients were enrolled: male patients were 172 (57.3%); mean age was 63.7 (± 17.6). At admission, 157 (52.3%) patients were at risk of malnutrition; 116 (38.7%) were malnourished. Malnourished patients had a mean LOS of 11.5 (± 8.0) days, not-malnourished 9.4 (± 6.2) days (p < 0.05). In-hospital mortality did not significantly differ between the two groups. Multivariate analysis shows that both malnutrition (p = 0.04; 95% CI 0.03-3.41) and phase angle (p = 0.004; 95% CI - 1.92 to - 0.37) independently correlate with LOS. In an Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, over half (52.3%) of the patients were found at risk of malnutrition, and over a third (38.7%) were malnourished at hospital admission. Malnutrition and BIA-derived phase angle are independently associated with LOS. ESPEN Criteria and phase angle could be performed at admission to identify patients deserving specific nutritional support.

Discordance between bioelectrical impedance vector analysis and the new ESPEN definition of malnutrition for the diagnosis of hospital malnutrition.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: No universally accepted diagnostic criteria for malnutrition are available to date. The aim was to assess the concordance for the diagnosis of hospital malnutrition between the bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) and the new definition of malnutrition proposed by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN). METHODS: A total of 140 adult hospitalized patients were included. The malnutrition risk was assessed by the Nutritional Risk Screening. The ESPEN malnutrition criteria (body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m2, weight loss (WL) + low BMI, and WL + low fat free mass index (FFMI) were applied to each patient. The bioelectrical impedance of each patient was measured, and malnutrition was diagnosed using the BIVA method. Diagnostic concordance between the BIVA and the new ESPEN definition was assessed with the Kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The malnutrition prevalence was higher with the BIVA vs ESPEN definition (22.1% vs 13.6%) in the global population and was similar (12.8% vs 12.1%) in the population at risk of malnutrition. The diagnostic performance of the BIVA was acceptable, with higher sensitivity in patients with fluid overload (FO) and more specificity in euvolemic patients. Diagnostic concordance between the BIVA and the ESPEN definition was poor for the global population (kappa = 0.56) and the population at risk of malnutrition (kappa = 0.67) but was acceptable in patients with FO (kappa = 0.78). However, the discordant BIVA+/ESPEN- patients classified as false positives for BIVA showed clinical and body composition data (low FFMI, low phase angle) consistent with malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: According to the clinical and bioelectrical characteristics of the discordant BIVA+/ESPEN- patients, the BIVA could perform better that the new ESPEN definition for the diagnosis of hospital malnutrition, which should be confirmed with other studies.

Prevalence of malnutrition and sarcopenia in a post-acute care geriatric unit: Applying the new ESPEN definition and EWGSOP criteria.

BACKGROUNDS & AIMS: The European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) consensus definition of malnutrition has been applied in hospitalized older diabetics and middle-aged patients, geriatric outpatients, and healthy elderly and young individuals. In a post-acute care setting, our aim was to assess malnutrition (ESPEN definition) and determine its relationship with sarcopenia in older in-patients deconditioned due to an acute process. METHODS: Eighty-eight in-patients aged ≥70 years with body mass index (BMI) <30 kg/m2 were included (84.1 years old; 62% women) and screened for malnutrition risk using biochemical markers and Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF). The ESPEN definition was applied: 1) BMI <18.5 kg/m2 or 2) unintentional weight loss plus a) low BMI or b) low fat-free mass index (FFMI). European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) criteria were also applied. RESULTS: Unintentional weight loss occurred in 27 (30.7%) of 88 in-patients considered "at risk" by MNA-SF. Malnutrition prevalence was 4.5%, 7.9%, and 17% using ESPEN definitions 1, 2a, and 2b, respectively; 19.3% were malnourished. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 37.5%, of which 90.9% fulfilled ESPEN malnutrition criteria, a significant association (p = 0.02). No differences in biochemical markers were observed between patients with or without malnutrition or sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: ESPEN criteria constitute an appropriate tool to establish a malnutrition diagnosis in post-acute care. Sarcopenia, as defined by EWGSOP, was present in 37.5% of patients, of which 90.9% fulfilled ESPEN criteria; therefore, malnutrition was significantly related to sarcopenia. Additional work is needed to determine further implications of the ESPEN consensus definition.