Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify older subjects at risk of malnutrition using the most appropriate tool available for the specific setting and to evaluate the Mini Nutritional Assessment short form (MNA-SF) in a sample of nonagenarians. DESIGN: Questionnaire based national screening week for the risk and prevalence of malnutrition in older people (NutriAction). SETTING: Older people in the community (CD) and in nursing homes (NH). PARTICIPANTS: General practices (n=70) and Nursing Homes (n=70). MEASUREMENTS: Questionnaire based on items from validated screening instruments: the MNA-SF, the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ) and additional clinically relevant parameters (mobility, independence, social isolation and co-morbidities). RESULTS: In total 5,334 people were screened of which 16% were aged over 90 years. In this age group, 66% of the screened individuals were at risk of malnutrition (MNA ≤ 11), and women were affected significantly more than men (p<0.001). Actual malnutrition was present in 22% (BMI <20), 20% (SNAQ) and 25% (clinical evaluation). The MNA appeared to be very sensitive but had a low specificity as well in the nonagenarians (98% and 44%) as in the younger old (97% and 52%). The SNAQ was not a sensitive tool for detecting malnutrition in this study population (25%). Although clinical impression had a low sensitivity (60-61%) it has a good specificity (86% in 90+ and 91% below 90yr). CONCLUSION: The overall risk of and the prevalence of malnutrition is common in older people. The prevalence is higher in women, in nursing homes and in older age groups. The MNA-SF followed by a clinical subjective evaluation seems to be the preferred strategy for detecting malnutrition in nonagenarians.