Background and aims: Malnutrition in general and protein deficiency in particular, both upon admission and during the recovery period, may adversely influence the clinical outcome after hip fracture. This study investigates the relationship between nutritional status measured by the Mini-Nutritional Assessment short form (MNA-SF) and biological markers in elderly hip-fractured patients.
Methods: A prospective study in a university hospital. The MNA-SF nutritional scale and laboratory values (serum albumin, cholesterol, total lymphocyte count) were assessed within three days after hip fracture surgery.
Results: Seventy-three patients were included: 61 (84%) were women and 12 men. Mean age was 81.5+/-7.1 years. Inhospital mortality was 10%. The mean MNA-SF score was 11+/-0.5 (range 3-14); according to these values, 39 patients (53%) were at risk of malnutrition. MNA-SF scores were not significantly correlated to patients' laboratory values. Fourteen episodes of nosocomial infection were diagnosed in 11 patients, and 6 patients developed pressure ulcers during hospitalization.
Conclusions: MNA-SF test scale values reflect a clinical process in post-operative hip-fractured patients which is different from serum albumin, cholesterol or lymphocyte count.