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Characteristics of the Mini-Nutritional Assessment in elderly home-care patients

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 64–70 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To assess the risk of malnutrition among elderly people living at home and receiving regular home-care services using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and to study the characteristics of the instrument in this patient group.

Design: A cross-sectional study using the MNA score to assess the nutritional status of elderly home-care patients.

Setting: Municipal home-care services in rural Finland.

Subjects: A total of 178 (65%) out of 272 eligible patients aged 75–94 y agreed to participate.

Major outcome methods: MNA questionnaire, anthropometrics, structured questionnaire, menu record.

Results: According to MNA, 3% were malnourished (MNA < 17 points), 48% at risk for malnutrition (17–23.5 points) and 49% well nourished (>23.5 points). The mean MNA score was 23.4. Weight loss, psychological stress, nutritional status, decline in food intake, self-perceived health status and mid-arm circumference (MAC) showed the strongest significant correlations (P=0.0001) to total MNA score. MNA questions with the strongest significant intercorrelations (P=0.0001) were body mass index with MAC and calf circumference; and the decline of food intake and self-perceived nutritional status. The number of eating problems correlated significantly to the MNA score (P=0.0011). Those with chewing and swallowing problems (n=64, 36%) had a significantly lower MNA score than others (P=0.0001). Dry mouth together with chewing and swallowing problems (n=40, 22%) reduced the MNA score even further (P=0.0001).

Conclusions: The results suggest that MNA is a useful tool in the identification of elderly home-care patients at risk for malnutrition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Herttoniemi Health Centre, City of Helsinki, Finland

    H Soini

  2. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland

    P Routasalo

  3. Clinical Research Services, Turku, Finland

    H Lagström

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  1. H Soini
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  2. P Routasalo
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  3. H Lagström
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Contributions

Guarantor: H Soini.

Contributors: HS designed the study, organised the project, analyed and interpreted the data, drafted and finalised the manuscript; PR, PhD, supervised the study, assisted in analysing the data, critically revised the article and contributed to the final approval of the article; HL, PhD, assisted in designing the study, critically revised the article and contributed to the final approval of the article.

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Correspondence to H Soini.

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Soini, H., Routasalo, P. & Lagström, H. Characteristics of the Mini-Nutritional Assessment in elderly home-care patients. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 64–70 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601748

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