PD977 - MALNUTRITION RISK AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT IN OLDER HOSPITALISED PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA: A NINE-YEAR MULTICENTRE STUDY

PD977

MALNUTRITION RISK AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT IN OLDER HOSPITALISED PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA: A NINE-YEAR MULTICENTRE STUDY

S. Bauer¹, D. Eglseer^1,*

¹Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

Rationale: To (1) describe the prevalence of malnutrition risk in older hospitalised patients with and without dementia between 2017 and 2025; (2) examine nutritional interventions in both groups over time; and (3) identify clinical and demographic factors associated with the co-occurrence of dementia and malnutrition risk.

Methods: Multicentre cross-sectional data from Austrian acute care hospitals participating in the Nursing Quality Measurement 2.0 (LPZ; 2017–2025) were analysed. The sample included 9,991 hospitalised patients aged ≥65 years, of whom 616 (6.2%) had documented dementia (ICD-10). Malnutrition risk was assessed using MUST, and nutritional interventions were recorded dichotomously. Group comparisons and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results: Malnutrition risk was 23.7% and similar in patients with and without dementia (23.4% vs. 23.7%; p=0.840). Despite similar risk, patients with dementia more often received nutritional interventions, particularly mealtime assistance, environmental adaptations, texture-modified and enriched diets, snacks, and oral nutritional supplements; enteral and parenteral nutrition were rare. The use of several supportive interventions declined between 2017 and 2025. Multivariable analysis identified female sex (OR 1.56), older age (OR 1.07/year), end-of-life condition (OR 1.89), higher comorbidity (OR 1.37), and greater care dependency (OR 0.95/CDS point) as independent factors associated with co-occurring dementia and malnutrition risk.

Conclusion: Although patients with dementia receive more nutritional support than those without, the decline in key supportive interventions over time is concerning. Structured, guideline-based nutritional care, along with adequate staffing and interdisciplinary collaboration, is needed to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared