PD444 - INFLUENCE OF BODY COMPOSITION AND RISK OF MALNUTRITION ON THE REHABILITATION OUTCOME OF NEUROLOGICAL REHABILITATION PATIENTS

PD444

INFLUENCE OF BODY COMPOSITION AND RISK OF MALNUTRITION ON THE REHABILITATION OUTCOME OF NEUROLOGICAL REHABILITATION PATIENTS

S. B. Jenner^1,*, M. Boltzmann¹, J. D. Rollnik¹

¹Institut für Neurorehabilitative Forschung, BDH-Klinik Hessisch Oldendorf gGmbH, Hessisch Oldendorf, Germany

Rationale: This pilot study examines changes in body composition during neurological rehabilitation and evaluates their impact on functional recovery, acknowledging that malnutrition is common and inadequately assessed by body weight alone.

Methods: Body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis, BIA), functional status (Early Rehabilitation Barthel Index, Rivermead Mobility Index, handgrip strength, modified Rankin Scale), and nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA), Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria (GLIM)) were assessed at admission, after 28 days, and at discharge. Complications and therapy intensity were documented. Statistical analyses included Mann Whitney U, Wilcoxon, χ², and Spearman correlation tests.

Results: Forty‑nine patients (59% women, 59 ± 14 years) were included; 71% were malnourished or at risk (MNA), and 20% met GLIM criteria. Poorer functional status was associated with lower phase angle, skeletal muscle mass, and cell percentage, and with higher Extracellular Mass (ECM)/Body Cell Mass (BCM) index. BIA parameters strongly correlated with functional status at admission and discharge. Low phase angle, high ECM/BCM index, and low cell percentage predicted poorer status at discharge but greater relative improvement. Nutritional status at week 4 was significantly associated with outcomes.

Conclusion: Nutritional status and BIA‑derived body composition at rehabilitation onset are closely linked to functional impairment and predict recovery potential. Early improvement of nutritional status may enhance outcomes, supporting routine integration of GLIM and BIA into neurological rehabilitation.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared