Kenichiro Yasutake1,2,3, Shigemi Koga3, Yuka Hokko4, Michiko Ikemoto4, Yuri Yaguchi5, Hironori Sakai6, Yusuke Murata7, Kenji Ohe7, Motoyuki Kohjima8, Makoto Nakamuta2,8, Munechika Enjoji2,7. 1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Nutritional Sciences, Nakamura Gakuen University, Fukuoka, Japan. Email: yasutake@nakamura-u.ac.jp. 2. Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan. 3. Department of Health and Nutrition Science, Nishikyushu University Graduate School, Saga, Japan. 4. Dietetic Laboratory, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan. 5. Dietetic Laboratory, National Hospital Organization Beppu Medical Center, Oita, Japan. 6. Department of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization Beppu Medical Center, Oita, Japan. 7. Health Care Center, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan. 8. Department of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition is an important prognostic factor for patients with liver disease and a novel nutritional assessment tool is required for these patients. The aim of this study was to validate the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) as a nutritional screening tool for patients with liver disease, by comparing MNA scores with other nutrition-related parameters. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Patients who were hospitalized at the gastroenterology division of Kyushu and Beppu Medical Center were enrolled. The study included 77 patients with liver disease (male/female, 46/31; mean±SD age, 68.5±10.7 years; liver cirrhosis, 64.9%; liver cancer, 61.0%). Correlations of MNA score at hospital admission with anthropometric parameters and blood test data were evaluated. RESULTS: In patients with liver disease, MNA scores demonstrated that 18 (23.4%) had normal nutritional status, 41 (53.2%) were at risk of malnutrition, and 18 (23.4%) were malnourished, indicating that up to 76.6% of the liver disease group were malnourished. Especially, patients with liver cirrhosis had lower scores of nutritional markers and MNA. The MNA score in liver cirrhotic patients correlated with the following parameters: % arm circumference, % triceps skinfolds, ratio of % maximum grasp strength and arm circumference, maximum grasp strength, arm muscle circumference, calf circumference, serum albumin levels, the controlling nutritional status score, and Onodera's prognostic index, while patients without liver cirrhosis did not show such correlation. CONCLUSIONS: MNA scores correlated with nutrition-related data in patients with liver cirrhosis. The MNA is an appropriate tool for nutritional screening assessment in these cirrhotic patients of any etiology.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition is an important prognostic factor for patients with liver disease and a novel nutritional assessment tool is required for these patients. The aim of this study was to validate the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) as a nutritional screening tool for patients with liver disease, by comparing MNA scores with other nutrition-related parameters. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN:Patients who were hospitalized at the gastroenterology division of Kyushu and Beppu Medical Center were enrolled. The study included 77 patients with liver disease (male/female, 46/31; mean±SD age, 68.5±10.7 years; liver cirrhosis, 64.9%; liver cancer, 61.0%). Correlations of MNA score at hospital admission with anthropometric parameters and blood test data were evaluated. RESULTS: In patients with liver disease, MNA scores demonstrated that 18 (23.4%) had normal nutritional status, 41 (53.2%) were at risk of malnutrition, and 18 (23.4%) were malnourished, indicating that up to 76.6% of the liver disease group were malnourished. Especially, patients with liver cirrhosis had lower scores of nutritional markers and MNA. The MNA score in liver cirrhoticpatients correlated with the following parameters: % arm circumference, % triceps skinfolds, ratio of % maximum grasp strength and arm circumference, maximum grasp strength, arm muscle circumference, calf circumference, serum albumin levels, the controlling nutritional status score, and Onodera's prognostic index, while patients without liver cirrhosis did not show such correlation. CONCLUSIONS: MNA scores correlated with nutrition-related data in patients with liver cirrhosis. The MNA is an appropriate tool for nutritional screening assessment in these cirrhotic patients of any etiology.