Background: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for intensive nutritional intervention outcomes in elderly undernourished patients to help reduce the number of patients with prolonged hospital stay or without recuperation of previous activities of daily living and quality of life.
Methods: In total, 230 patients who received interventions from a nutrition support team (NST) between January 2016 and July 2018 were included. Patients were classified into two groups based on NST intervention outcomes: patients with improved nutritional status were included in the successful group, whereas those whose nutritional status did not improve, as defined by progressive illness or death, were classified into the non-successful group. We assessed patient characteristics, laboratory data, and nutrition support methods.
Results: Our multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that: 1) The presence of peripheral parenteral nutrition (hazard ratio (HR): 1.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13 - 2.88) was identified as an independent risk factor for NST intervention outcomes; 2) The energy fill rate to total energy expenditure was < 66.0% (HR: 1.61; 95% CI: 0.98 - 2.66); and 3) A geriatric nutritional risk index score < 70.0 (HR: 1.54; 95% CI: 0.92 - 2.56) tended to be negatively associated with NST intervention outcomes.
Conclusions: In addition to the nutrition therapy provided by a traditional NST, patients with the risk factors require nutritional intervention. Elderly individuals should also receive nutrition care because they have been recuperating at their home or in long-term care facilities, to prevent experiencing adverse conditions.
Keywords: Elderly; Energy fill rate; Geriatric nutritional risk index; Malnutrition; Nutrition support team; Nutritional assessment; Peripheral parenteral nutrition; Undernourished.