The majority of older patients in the rehabilitation setting are nutritionally compromised which adversely influences LOS. In order to encourage more widespread screening, the MNA-SF may be able to replace the full MNA.

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Background & aims Older malnourished patients experience increased length of hospital stay and greater morbidity compared to their well nourished counterparts. This study aimed to assess whether nutritional status at hospital admission predicted clinical outcomes at 12 months follow-up. Methods Secondary data analysis of 2602 consecutive patient admissions to an acute tertiary hospital in New South Wales, Australia on or before 1st June 2009. Twelve-month data was analysed in a sub-sample of 774 patients. Nutritional status was determined within 72 h of admission using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Outcomes, obtained from electronic patient records included hospital readmission rate, total length of stay (LOS), change in level of care at discharge, and in-hospital mortality. Results A third (34%) of patients were malnourished and 55% at risk of malnutrition. Using a Cox proportional hazards regression model, controlling for underlying illness and age, patients at risk of malnutrition were 2.46 (95% CI: 1.36, 4.45; p = 0.003) times more likely to have a poor clinical outcome (mortality/discharge to higher level of care), while malnourished patients had a 3.57 (95% CI: 1.94, 6.59; p = 0.000) times higher risk. Conclusions A poor nutritional status carries a substantially greater risk of death and/or loss of dependency in older adults. Interventions to improve the nutritional status of patients during their hospital stay, and following discharge back to the community, are needed to lower the risk of adverse outcomes.

Aim To investigate the relationship between nutritional status, functional ability and frailty in older adults participating in a 12‐week Transitional Aged Care Service program. Methods A retrospective analysis of a clinical cohort of older adults aged 65+ years after hospital discharge. At entry into the program and at completion, nutritional status was measured using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), frailty status was measured using the Groningen Frailty Indicator and functional ability was measured using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Demographic data were obtained from electronic medical records. Results Baseline data were available for 115 participants (mean age = 81.7 (SD =7.9) years; 20.9% classified as malnourished and 89.6% as frail). A positive association was found between nutritional status and frailty (r = 0.298; P = 0.001), and frailty and functional ability (r = 0.204; P = 0.029). Multiple regression analysis, accounting for the cofounders of baseline MNA, MBI, age, gender, length of hospital stay and living situation, found that nutritional status and functional ability were able to indicate the presence of frailty on admission to the program (P = 0.002, P = 0.007, respectively). In those program completers (n = 79), significant improvements were found in nutritional status, frailty and functional ability (P < 0.0005). Conclusions Nutrition status, frailty and functional ability are closely and positively related, and should therefore be considered simultaneously in rehabilitation for older adults. A post‐hospital transitional program with a multidisciplinary approach significantly improved all three outcomes, suggesting its value in enabling frail older people to remain independent for as long as possible.