Incidence of protein calorie malnutrition in the nursing home population.

Abstract

That nutritional parameters change with age is a well-known phenomenon. Physical activity, lean body mass, and metabolic rate all decline with increasing age. There has been little work regarding the nutritional assessment of geriatric nursing home patients to determine their nutritional status and to focus attention on their nutritional needs. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional status of the residents of two urban nursing homes. The nutritional status of 227 nursing home residents (mean age 72.2 years) was evaluated using biochemical and anthropometric measurements. Midarm muscle circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, weight, height, serum albumin, serum pre-albumin, serum retinol binding protein, and a complete blood count with differential were obtained. The evaluation of this data indicated that there was a 52% incidence of malnutrition. This can be broken down to: 24% hypoalbuminemic malnutrition, 19% Kwashiokor-Marasmus mix, and 9% Marasmus. Twenty-eight percent of all patients were anergic, and 76% of the patients were anemic. In conclusion, there appears to be far more documentable malnutrition than anticipated or previously reported in this population.

Oral Nutritional Supplement Use in Elderly Nursing Home Patients

“…The behavior of physicians in the study is probably similar to that of many physicians treating nursing home patients. Previous studies have documented that malnutrition is common in elderly nursing home residents 8–12 and is due to a wide variety of causes 3,4,13–16 . There are a number of reasons why nutritional assessment of nursing home patients is inadequate.…”

Nutritional support for the elderly.

“…The issues raised [1] were related to the high in cidence of anemia and whether or not these could have been caused by clinical problems other than nutritional, whether or not non-volitional tube feed ing vs a need for supplementary personnel to assist patients in eating the food presented was the problem, and if the above was related to the low reimbursement the state provides for its nursing home patients.…”

“…In their article Pinchcofsky-Devin and Kaminski [1] suggest that more nutritional support for the elderly will change the status of the nursing home residents they studied. Perhaps there are other parameters which should also be addressed.…”

Use of Oral Supplements in Nursing Homes: Remaining Questions

“…For more than 2 decades, investigators have found that malnutrition and weight loss are common problems in nursing homes 8–12 . Yet these problems continue to exist.…”

“…For more than 2 decades, investigators have found that malnutrition and weight loss are common problems in nursing homes. [8][9][10][11][12] Yet these problems continue to exist. Depression, adverse drug effects, chronic medical problems, restricted diets, dementia, and functional disabilities are among the possible variables identified as placing residents at risk for malnutrition.…”