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Clinical Nutrition

Inflammation and nutritional status as predictors of physical performance and strength loss during hospitalization

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, pages 1439–1442 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to examine changes in physical performance and handgrip strength during hospitalization as well as to evaluate their interrelationship with inflammatory and nutritional status.

Design:

Data were available on 302 elderly patients with a mean age of 80.83±7.14 years. Handgrip strength, gait speed and chair-stand test were assessed at admission and before discharge. In all subjects, serum CRP values and Mini Nutritional Assessment scores were also evaluated.

Results:

The risk of worsening in chair-stand test performance was 4.2 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.574–11.310) for subjects with simultaneous presence of malnutrition and CRP⩾50 and 3.3 mg/dl (95% CI: 1.127–9.423) for subjects with CRP⩾50 mg/l not malnourished in comparison with subjects with Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)⩾24 and CRP⩽10 mg/l. The risk of handgrip strength loss was 8.8 (95% CI: 3.545–21.662) in subjects with simultaneous presence of malnutrition and CRP⩾50 and 2.9 mg/dl (95% CI: 1.223–6.783) in subjects with CRP⩾50 mg/l not malnourished in comparison with subjects with MNA⩾24 and CRP⩽10 mg/l.

Conclusions:

Simultaneous presence of high CRP values and malnutrition determines an additive effect on muscle strength loss and physical performance.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. Mark Newman who corrected the English of the final version.

Author contributions

R, VZ, FF and MZ: analysis and interpretation of data and preparation of manuscript; MZ, EZ, FF and GM: consulted on study design, recruited subjects and edited the manuscript; AR: edited the manuscript; CC, SC, SG, VZ and MZ: acquisition of subjects, collection of data and review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Section of Geriatrics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    A P Rossi, V Zanandrea, E Zoico, M Zanardo, C Caliari, S Confente, S Gabriele, G Mazzali, F Fantin & M Zamboni

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  1. A P Rossi
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  2. V Zanandrea
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  3. E Zoico
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  4. M Zanardo
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  5. C Caliari
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  6. S Confente
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  7. S Gabriele
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  8. G Mazzali
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  9. F Fantin
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  10. M Zamboni
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Correspondence to A P Rossi.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Rossi, A., Zanandrea, V., Zoico, E. et al. Inflammation and nutritional status as predictors of physical performance and strength loss during hospitalization. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 1439–1442 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.159

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.159

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