Höfundar:
Hrafnhildur Eymundsdóttir, Berglind Blondal, Olof Geirsdottir, Alfons Ramel
Background: The risk for limited activities of daily living (ADL) increases with age. Unintentional weight loss in community-dwelling older adults is related to adverse health outcomes. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether participants with poor ADL at hospital discharge had increased weight loss after six months of follow-up and whether nutrition therapy can prevent this weight loss.
Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the HOMEFOOD dietary intervention trial (N=104) investigating community-dwelling older adults (Mini-Mental-State-Examination≥20, 66-95 years) discharged from hospital and at risk for malnutrition, receiving either 6 months nutrition therapy or standard care without any further nutrition intervention. ADLs were assessed using seven questions on self-care including mobility.
Results: At discharge, 45 (43%), 36 (35%) and 23 (22%) had high, medium and poor ADL, respectively with no differences between the control and the intervention groups. Participants in the control group with poor ADL had significantly higher weight loss than participants with high ADL (adjusted: 3.6 kg (95%CI:1.0-6.1 kg, P=0.007). No such difference was observed in the intervention group.
Conclusions: Participants with poor ADL at hospital discharge develop lower body weight by around 3.5 kg six months later when compared to participants with high ADL. Receiving nutrition therapy post-discharge can nullify these differences in body weight between ADL categories.