Body Mass Index, Weight Loss, and Mortality in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Our study suggests that undernutrition, as measured by low BMI and unintentional weight loss, is a greater mortality threat to older adults than is obesity or intentional weight loss.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Predictors of institutionalization among home-dwelling older Finnish people: a 22-year follow-up study

“…However, even though the correlation between BMI and body fat decreases with age, this correlation remains reasonably strong in elderly people [28]. Several studies have shown that ''optimal BMI'' in the elderly is about 25-30 kg/m 2 [29][30][31][32][33]. Low BMI is often seen as a sign of frailty in older people.…”

The impact of weight loss and low BMI on mortality of nursing home residents – Results from the nutritionDay in nursing homes

“…To our knowledge there are few studies that compare the relevance of weight loss and a low BMI in older persons within a single data set [1,3,9,11,13]. None of these studies analyzed the possible interference and interaction of these two risk factors and some have conflicting results with regard to the prognostic impact of both factors.…”

Multifactorial Causes of Failure to Thrive in a 79-Year-Old Male

“…As pertaining to our patient, with a starting weight of 145.1 pounds, his age and gender adjusted hazard ratio for mortality would be 2.15 (95% CI 1.58 -2.91) [5]. Additionally, with a weight loss starting from a BMI of 24, this places our patient at additional risk of mortality, given reports of higher 3-year all cause mortality associated with weight loss in elderly patients with BMI below 30 [6]. When malnutrition may not be so apparent as in this case, numerous screening tools exist to asses nutritional status in the elderly patient.…”