Charlene Wright1,2, Bhuvaneshwari Shankar3, Skye Marshall1,4, Joshua Pearcy2, Ananya Somani2, Ekta Agarwal1,2. 1. Bond University Nutrition and Dietetics Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia. 2. Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia. 3. Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, India. 4. Nutrition Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
AIM: Current literature regarding the prevalence and consequences of poor dietary intake and risk of malnutrition in older adults is limited to wealthier regions including the United States, Europe and Australasia. With a rapidly ageing population in India, this prospective observational study aimed to evaluate hospital food intake and malnutrition risk and their impact on hospital length of stay, readmission rates and in-hospital mortality of older adults in Indian hospitals. METHODS: Data collected during nutritionDay worldwide audits (2014-2016), in five urban, private hospitals in India included baseline demographic and clinical data on patients aged ≥60 years. Proportion of food consumed at one main meal was recorded and data on length of stay, readmissions and in-hospital mortality were collected 30 days post-baseline. RESULTS: A total of 262 participants (mean age: 69 ± 8 years; 65% males) were recruited. Mapped malnutrition risk (mapped Malnutrition Screening Tool [mMST] score ≥ 2) on admission was 31% and increased to 44% during the course of hospitalisation. Over one quarter of participants consumed ≤50% of their meal (28%). Over half the participants were found to be eating poorly (59%) and those identified as at risk of malnutrition were not offered additional nutrition support. The median LOS was 8 days (range: 1-92), 30-day readmission rates were 7% and in-hospital mortality was 0.4%. Malnutrition risk and poor food intake were not associated with health-related outcomes. CONCLUSION: Older adults in Indian acute care hospitals have a noticeable prevalence of malnutrition risk and poor food intake. There is an opportunity for future research to focus on identifying and managing nutritional issues.
AIM: Current literature regarding the prevalence and consequences of poor dietary intake and risk of malnutrition in older adults is limited to wealthier regions including the United States, Europe and Australasia. With a rapidly ageing population in India, this prospective observational study aimed to evaluate hospital food intake and malnutrition risk and their impact on hospital length of stay, readmission rates and in-hospital mortality of older adults in Indian hospitals. METHODS: Data collected during nutritionDay worldwide audits (2014-2016), in five urban, private hospitals in India included baseline demographic and clinical data on patients aged ≥60 years. Proportion of food consumed at one main meal was recorded and data on length of stay, readmissions and in-hospital mortality were collected 30 days post-baseline. RESULTS: A total of 262 participants (mean age: 69 ± 8 years; 65% males) were recruited. Mapped malnutrition risk (mapped Malnutrition Screening Tool [mMST] score ≥ 2) on admission was 31% and increased to 44% during the course of hospitalisation. Over one quarter of participants consumed ≤50% of their meal (28%). Over half the participants were found to be eating poorly (59%) and those identified as at risk of malnutrition were not offered additional nutrition support. The median LOS was 8 days (range: 1-92), 30-day readmission rates were 7% and in-hospital mortality was 0.4%. Malnutrition risk and poor food intake were not associated with health-related outcomes. CONCLUSION: Older adults in Indian acute care hospitals have a noticeable prevalence of malnutrition risk and poor food intake. There is an opportunity for future research to focus on identifying and managing nutritional issues.