Purpose: We aimed to evaluate and compare the Short Form of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF) as a nutritional screening tool with the new Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) diagnostic criteria for malnutrition (the most current reference standard) among older patients with cancer.
Methods: Patients ≥ 70 years old, with a G8 screening tool ≤ 14, referred to an oncogeriatric clinic. MNA-SF and GLIM criteria were obtained.
Results: 40 patients were included (mean age 84.8 ± 5.5, 60% male). According to the GLIM diagnostic criteria, 57.5% were malnourished. The MNA-SF classified 80% as being malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. MNA-SF showed a high sensitivity (100%) and a low specificity (50%) to detect GLIM-defined malnutrition. The AUC of the ROC curve was 0.75.
Conclusion: The MNA-SF scale is useful as a screening tool to detect malnutrition in older cancer outpatients.
Keywords: Cancer; GLIM malnutrition diagnostic criteria; Mini nutritional assessment; Older.