Potentially modifiable determinants of malnutrition in older adults: A systematic review

Abstract

Results: Twenty-three studies were included in the final review. Thirty potentially modifiable determinants across seven domains (oral, psychosocial, medication and care, health, physical function, lifestyle, eating) were included. The majority of studies had a high risk of bias and were of a low quality. There is moderate evidence that hospitalisation, eating dependency, poor self-perceived health, poor physical function and poor appetite are determinants of malnutrition. Moderate evidence suggests that chewing difficulties, mouth pain, gum issues co-morbidity, visual and hearing impairments, smoking status, alcohol consumption and physical activity levels, complaints about taste of food and specific nutrient intake are not determinants of malnutrition. There is low evidence that loss of interest in life, access to meals and wheels, and modified texture diets are determinants of malnutrition. Furthermore, there is low evidence that psychological distress, anxiety, loneliness, access to transport and wellbeing, hunger and thirst are not determinants of malnutrition. There appears to be conflicting evidence that dental status, swallowing, cognitive function, depression, residential status, medication intake and/or polypharmacy, constipation, periodontal disease are determinants of malnutrition. Conclusion: There are multiple potentially modifiable determinants of malnutrition however strong robust evidence is lacking for the majority of determinants. Better prospective cohort studies are required. With an increasingly ageing population, targeting modifiable factors will be crucial to the effective treatment and prevention of malnutrition.

Social and Economic Factors and Malnutrition or the Risk of Malnutrition in the Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

“…Thus, a simple and inexpensive way to increase caloric intake is to make arrangements for family members or caregivers to eat with them [60]. In contrast to the results obtained in the present meta-analysis, in two systematic reviews of the determinants of malnutrition, living alone was not identified as a risk factor for malnutrition [4,61].…”

“…The feeling of loneliness, along with isolation and decreased social interactions, worsens the nutritional vulnerability in the elderly [62]. On the contrary, one systematic review of prospective studies suggested that the feeling of loneliness was not related to the risk of malnutrition [61].…”

Predictors of malnutrition among elderly people above 65 Years in East Ethiopia: Neglected public health concern

“…In addition, promoting active living style and reducing sedentary lifestyle could play an important role in reducing malnutrition and adverse consequences [28][29][30].…”

“…Also those elders in institutions other than home setting increase the risk of being malnutrition. [21,29]. Thus, interventions developing positive lifestyle like physical activity and quality dietary habit for reduced chronic diseases risk should get due attention.…”

Concept analysis of loneliness in older adults: A hybrid model

“…A range of the consequences of loneliness in older adults was reported. These included morbidity and mortality [38][39][40], poor physiological health outcomes [4,41], poor psychological health and wellbeing [42,43], defective immune functioning [44,45], hypertension [46,47], coronary heart disease (CHD) [48,49], stroke [50,51], increased risk of physical inactivity and smoking [52], dementia [53,54], depression [55,56], low self-esteem, suicide, alcohol and drug abuse [55,57], sleeping problems [53,58], disturbed appetite [59,60], latent causes of hospitalization [41,61], inflammatory diseases (diabetes, autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus) [4,62], obesity, cancer, poor hearing [63,64], borderline personality disorder [65,66], cognitive decline [67,68], Alzheimer's disease [53,69].…”