Silvio Buscemi1, John A Batsis2, Gaspare Parrinello1, Fatima M Massenti3, Giuseppe Rosafio1, Vittoria Sciascia1, Flavia Costa4, Sebastiano Pollina Addario5, Serena Mendola1, Anna M Barile1, Vincenza Maniaci1, Nadia Rini1, Gregorio Caimi1. 1. Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica (DIBIMIS), Laboratorio di Metabolismo e Nutrizione Clinica, Policlinico P. Giaccone, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. 2. Section of General Internal Medicine at Dartmouth, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA. 3. Dipartimento di Scienze per la Promozione della Salute e Materno Infantile, Policlinico P. Giaccone, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. 4. Servizio di Ingegneria Clinica, Policlinico 'P. Giaccone', Palermo, Italy. 5. Dipartimento Attività Sanitarie ed Osservatorio Epidemiologico, Regione Siciliana, Palermo, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Malnutrition in elderly inpatients hospitalized on medical wards is a significant public health concern. The aim of this study was to investigate nutritional markers as mortality predictors following discharge in hospitalized medical elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective observational cohort study with follow-up of 48 months. Two hundred and twenty-five individuals aged 60 and older admitted from the hospital emergency room in the past 48 h were investigated at the medical ward in the University hospital in Palermo (Italy). Anthropometric and clinical measurements, Mini-nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire, bioelectrical (BIA) phase angle (PA), grip strength were obtained all within 48 h of admission. Mortality data were verified by means of mortality registry and analysed using Cox-proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Ninety (40%) participants died at the end of follow-up. There were significant relationships between PA, MNA score, age and gender on mortality. Patients in the lowest tertile of PA (< 4·6°) had higher mortality estimates [I vs II tertile: hazard ratio (HR) = 3·40; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2·01-5·77; II vs III tertile: HR = 3·83; 95% CI: 2·21-6·64; log-rank test: χ(2) = 43·6; P < 0·001]. Similarly, the survival curves demonstrated low MNA scores (< 22) were associated with higher mortality estimates (HR = 1·85; 95% CI: 1·22-2·81 χ(2) = 8·2; P = 0·004). CONCLUSIONS: The MNA and BIA-derived phase angle are reasonable tools to identify malnourished patients at high mortality risk and may represent useful markers in intervention trials in this high-risk subgroup.
BACKGROUND: Malnutrition in elderly inpatients hospitalized on medical wards is a significant public health concern. The aim of this study was to investigate nutritional markers as mortality predictors following discharge in hospitalized medical elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective observational cohort study with follow-up of 48 months. Two hundred and twenty-five individuals aged 60 and older admitted from the hospital emergency room in the past 48 h were investigated at the medical ward in the University hospital in Palermo (Italy). Anthropometric and clinical measurements, Mini-nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire, bioelectrical (BIA) phase angle (PA), grip strength were obtained all within 48 h of admission. Mortality data were verified by means of mortality registry and analysed using Cox-proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Ninety (40%) participants died at the end of follow-up. There were significant relationships between PA, MNA score, age and gender on mortality. Patients in the lowest tertile of PA (< 4·6°) had higher mortality estimates [I vs II tertile: hazard ratio (HR) = 3·40; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2·01-5·77; II vs III tertile: HR = 3·83; 95% CI: 2·21-6·64; log-rank test: χ(2) = 43·6; P < 0·001]. Similarly, the survival curves demonstrated low MNA scores (< 22) were associated with higher mortality estimates (HR = 1·85; 95% CI: 1·22-2·81 χ(2) = 8·2; P = 0·004). CONCLUSIONS: The MNA and BIA-derived phase angle are reasonable tools to identify malnourished patients at high mortality risk and may represent useful markers in intervention trials in this high-risk subgroup.
Authors: Bradley C Johnston; John L Seivenpiper; Robin W M Vernooij; Russell J de Souza; David J A Jenkins; Dena Zeraatkar; Dennis M Bier; Gordon H Guyatt Journal: Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes Date: 2019-05-27