Prevalence and Measures of Nutritional Compromise Among Nursing Home Patients: Weight Loss, Low Body Mass Index, Malnutrition, and Feeding Dependency, A Systematic Review of the Literature

Optimising nutrition in residential aged care: A narrative review

“…However, in most studies malnutrition risk and prevalence were reportedly between 47-62% and 20-39% respectively (14). The findings of this review are consistent with results from other multicentre studies since published from regions including Iran, Italy, Austria and Finland (46-50).…”

“…Bell et al recently published a systematic review on malnutrition prevalence in the RAC setting (14). The review included studies that were published from 1999-2011, single and multicentre studies, and cohorts ranging from 50-11,902 RAC residents (14).…”

“…The review included studies that were published from 1999-2011, single and multicentre studies, and cohorts ranging from 50-11,902 RAC residents (14). Various methods such as nutrition screening and assessment tools, body mass index (BMI), weight loss percentage, anthropometric measurements, and weight were utilised to determine malnutrition prevalence (14).…”

“…The review included studies that were published from 1999-2011, single and multicentre studies, and cohorts ranging from 50-11,902 RAC residents (14). Various methods such as nutrition screening and assessment tools, body mass index (BMI), weight loss percentage, anthropometric measurements, and weight were utilised to determine malnutrition prevalence (14). Malnutrition risk and prevalence were estimated to range from 29-97% and 4-71% respectively, with the large variation attributed to selection bias and research methodology to define malnutrition (14).…”

“…In a recent poll conducted by the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, RAC experts from eight countries identified "improving nutrition" as one of the top five international research priorities in this setting (13). To the best of our knowledge, previously published reviews in the RAC setting have summarised evidence regarding malnutrition prevalence (14), associated risk factors (15), and effective nutritional interventions (16)(17)(18). The purpose of this paper is to review and summarise existing evidence on these aspects of malnutrition in the RAC setting, along with including a synopsis of evidence-based methods to identify malnutrition in the RAC setting, highlight the consequences of malnutrition in this population and provide future directions for practice and research.…”