MALNUTRITION IS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR REHABILITATION OUTCOME IN ELDERLY INPATIENTS WITH HOSPITAL-ASSOCIATED DECONDITIONING: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Objective: To investigate the association between nutritional status and rehabilitation outcome in elderly inpatients with hospital-associated deconditioning. Design: A prospective cohort study. Subjects/patients: One hundred sixty-nine consecutive elderly inpatients diagnosed with hospital-associated deconditioning. Methods: Nutritional status at referral was assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form at the University Medical Center. Body mass index, haemoglobin, albumin, total lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein, cause of malnutrition, and feeding route were also investigated. Primary outcome was Barthel Index score at discharge. Results: A total of 148 patients (87.6%) were malnourished, and 21 were at risk for malnutrition. There were no patients with normal nutritional status. Malnourished patients had a lower Barthel Index score at discharge than those at risk for malnutrition. Chronic disease-related malnutrition, oral intake, and parenteral nutrition were associated with the Barthel Index score at discharge. There were significant correlations between the Barthel Index score at discharge and nutritional score, albumin, and total lymphocyte count. In multiple regression analysis, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form, albumin, and chronic disease-related malnutrition were significantly associated with the Barthel Index score at discharge. Conclusion: Most elderly inpatients with hospital-associated deconditioning are malnourished. Nutritional status, albumin, and chronic disease-related malnutrition are associated with poor rehabilitation outcome in hospital-associated deconditioning.