Role of Nutrition Focused Physical Exam in the Identification of Malnutrition in the Elderly
Description
Sixteen percent of the U.S. population is over 65 years of age and up to one out of two have malnutrition. The nutrition-focused physical exam (NFPE) is an integral part of the nutrition care process and model consisting of consecutive steps: nutrition assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring/evaluation. The NFPE is a component of nutrition assessment providing registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) with information to determine nutrition status and degree of malnutrition. Six clinical characteristics used to identify malnutrition are energy intake, weight loss, subcutaneous fat loss, muscle loss, fluid accumulation, and reduced function status. Each has a threshold for identification of well-nourished, mild-moderate malnutrition and severe-malnutrition. The objective of the study was to determine if there is a correlation between the number of positive NFPE findings and the degree of severity of malnutrition and to identify the components of NFPE that have the most frequent positive results in this sample population. The study also assessed the role of nutrient intake and body mass index in relation to overall nutritional status. A cohort study of senior adults participated in a NFPE, body mass index (BMI) calculations and nutrition analysis. Thirty-four, free-living adults attending the Senior Center in Arkadelphia, AR, participated in the study. Descriptive statistics were calculated using Nutritionist Pro®, Excel®, and SPSS®. A bivariate (Pearson) correlation compared age with nutrient intake and a one-sample t test compared nutrient intake with Dietary Reference Intake (DRI).
Role of Nutrition Focused Physical Exam in the Identification of Malnutrition in the Elderly
Sixteen percent of the U.S. population is over 65 years of age and up to one out of two have malnutrition. The nutrition-focused physical exam (NFPE) is an integral part of the nutrition care process and model consisting of consecutive steps: nutrition assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring/evaluation. The NFPE is a component of nutrition assessment providing registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) with information to determine nutrition status and degree of malnutrition. Six clinical characteristics used to identify malnutrition are energy intake, weight loss, subcutaneous fat loss, muscle loss, fluid accumulation, and reduced function status. Each has a threshold for identification of well-nourished, mild-moderate malnutrition and severe-malnutrition. The objective of the study was to determine if there is a correlation between the number of positive NFPE findings and the degree of severity of malnutrition and to identify the components of NFPE that have the most frequent positive results in this sample population. The study also assessed the role of nutrient intake and body mass index in relation to overall nutritional status. A cohort study of senior adults participated in a NFPE, body mass index (BMI) calculations and nutrition analysis. Thirty-four, free-living adults attending the Senior Center in Arkadelphia, AR, participated in the study. Descriptive statistics were calculated using Nutritionist Pro®, Excel®, and SPSS®. A bivariate (Pearson) correlation compared age with nutrient intake and a one-sample t test compared nutrient intake with Dietary Reference Intake (DRI).