LB126 - NUTRITIONAL RISK AND IN-HOSPITAL MORTALITY IN OLDER ADULTS

LB126

NUTRITIONAL RISK AND IN-HOSPITAL MORTALITY IN OLDER ADULTS

J. A. Luna Morán^1,*, K. Escalante-Rincón¹, E. M. Santoyo-Ainslie¹, B. A. Avelar-Martinez¹, F. Estrada-Moya^2,3, A. E. Serralde-Zúñiga²

¹Servicio de Nutriología Clínica, Hospital Ángeles del Pedregal, ²Servicio de Nutriología Clínica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, ³Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación,, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, MEXICO CITY, Mexico

 

Rationale: Older adults are particularly vulnerable to nutritional deterioration during hospitalization, a factor that may compromise clinical outcomes and increase mortality. This study aimed to quantify the association between age (≥60 years), nutritional risk, malnutrition, and in-hospital mortality in a large hospital population. We sought to determine whether advanced age independently elevates the risk of malnutrition and subsequent mortality.

Methods: This retrolective cohort study was conducted at a private hospital. Demographic, anthropometric, and dietary variables were collected in the first 24 hours of admission to assess the association between older age (≥60 years) and nutritional deterioration (nutritional risk and malnutrition), as well as the risk of in-hospital mortality.

Statistical analyses were performed using the STATA statistical software.

Results: A total of 46,434 patients were included in the analysis; 60.3% were female, with a median age of 51 (IQR 37–65) years and a median BMI of 25.2 kg/m² (IQR 22.8–28.3). The differences observed between age groups are presented in the Table. Older adults showed a significantly higher risk of nutritional risk (RR 1.37; 95% CI 1.34–1.41; p<0.001), malnutrition (RR 3.45; 95% CI 3.18–3.73; p < 0.001) and mortality (RR 3.69; p=0.047) compared to younger patients.

	Age ≥60 n=16,300	Age <60 n= 30,134	p Value
Nutritional risk n (%)	5,849 (35.88)	7,380 (24.49)	<0.001
Malnutrition n (%)	1,633 (10.02)	876 (2.91)	<0.001
Mortality n (%)*	6 (0.04)	3 (0.01)	0.054

Pearson's chi² or Fisher exact test*

Conclusion: Patients aged 60 and over exhibited a markedly higher likelihood of nutritional risk, malnutrition and in-hospital mortality compared to their younger counterparts. These findings underscore the critical need for routine nutritional screening, assessment and targeted interventions in elderly inpatients to mitigate risk and improve survival outcomes.

References: 1. Thibault R, Abbasoglu O, Ioannou E, Meija L, Ottens-Oussoren K, Pichard C, et al. ESPEN guideline on hospital nutrition. Clin Nutr. 2021;40(12):5684–709. 

2. Volkert D, Beck AM, Cederholm T, Cruz-Jentoft A, Hooper L, Kiesswetter E, et al. ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical nutrition and hydration in geriatrics. Clin Nutr. 2022;41(4):958–89.

3.Guigoz Y, Vellas B. Nutritional assessment in older adults : MNA® 25 years of a screening tool and a reference standard for care and research; What next? J Nutr Health Aging. 2021;25(4):528–83.

4.Caselato-Sousa VM, Guariento ME, Crosta G, Pinto MA da S, Sgarbieri VC. Using the mini nutritional assessment to evaluate the profile of elderly patients in a geriatric outpatient clinic and in long-term institutions. Int J Clin Med. 2011;02(05):582–7.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared