journal articles
USEFULNESS OF CLINICO-BIOLOGICAL INDICES IN THE ASSESSMENT OF MALNUTRITION AND ITS RELATED MORTALITY AND COMPLICATIONS RISKS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS
J. Abroug, O. Harzallah, M. Mahjoub, R.Klii, A. Sriha, F. Neffati, I. Hellara, S. El Mhamdi, A. Hamzaoui, H. Mribeh, H. Gamra, M.F. Najjar, M. Soussi Soltani, A. Kamel, I. Khochtali, S. Mahjoub
J Aging Res Clin Practice 2013;2(4):376-381
Background: To date, no standard is currently available for the assessment of malnutrition and its complications. Many tools are available but most of them are partially or not validated. Objectives: In this work we aimed to evaluate the nutritional state of elderly people meaning the MNA test and to assess the prognosis and mortality risk related to malnutrition in elderly patients. Methods: 662 patients (mean age: 73 years, sex ratio: 0.6) older than 65 years were included in this study. They were recruited either from primary (438 outpatients) than from tertiary healthcare centers (224 inpatients). Patient’s nutritional state was evaluated by anthropometric parameters, by biological tests (albumin, transthyretin, orosomucoide and crp) and by MNA form. Prognostic indices (GNRI and PRI) were calculated for each patient in order to assess malnutrition related mortality and complications risks. Results: According to MNA test, 6.65% patients (44/662) were malnourished. Among these patients, albumin, transthyretrine and orosomucoide levels were decreased in respectively 52%, 62% and 89% of cases. The mean GNRI in malnourished elderly patients was 104 +/- 20. According to this index, malnutrition related risk of mortality and complications was major in 25%, moderate in 14.3% and low in 14.5% of cases. The PINI was on average at 33+/- 10. The malnutrition related-risk was appraised by PINI as low in 6.5%, moderate in 12.7% and high in 7% of cases and the vital prognosis was engaged in 35% of malnourished patients. Conclusion: Our study showed that clinico-biological indices are a good tool for the assessment of nutritional status and malnutrition’s complications in elderly patients.