Background and Aims

Dehydration, an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly, commonly accompanies malnutrition. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) and low intake dehydration (LID) assessed by serum osmolarity in hospitalized elderly.

Methods

A single-center, retrospective study was performed with older adult inpatient aged 65 years or older. Low intake dehydration was assessed using the Khajuria-Krahn formula as recommended by the ESPEN. To predict LID, on admission MNA-SF score was first examined as a scale predictor variable, followed by categorical as normal nutritional state (score>11), at risk (scores 8 to 12), and malnourishment (score<8) based on the MNA-SF.

Results

The study included 412 patients (mean age: 78.4±7.6 years, female: 50%). LID was recorded by 37.5%. Patients were in normal nutritional state, at risk of malnutrition, and malnourished by 34.2%, 32.8%, and 33%, respectively. Multiple regression analyses showed an inverse correlation between MNA-SF score and plasma osmolarity, controlling for study covariates. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed an independent relationship between decreasing MNA-SF score and the risk of LID as a binary outcome (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.05-1.25; p=0.002). An abnormal nutritional state (MNA-SF score <11) as a binary explanatory variable was also associated with a higher probability of LID, though with a marginal statistical non-significance (OR: 1.79, 95%CI: 0.98-3.28, p=0.058).

Conclusions

This study identified a relationship between the MNA-SF score and serum osmolarity and LID. However, the utility of MNA-SF-based nutritional status classifications in prediciting LID was not robust.

Background and Aims

Acute illnesses have a significant impact on mental health, especially in elderly patients. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of subclinical depression in an elderly population surviving COVID-19.

Methods

Methods

We did a prospective longitudinal study of hospitalized patients or patients with persistent symptoms over 65 years old who had suffered from COVID-19 from 03/01/2020 to 05/31/2020 confirmed by PCR or seroconversion. Screening for depression was made with Yesavage test in its 15-item version. Evaluation: 3, 6 and 12 months after the acute condition. Follow-up: 12 months.

Results

90 patients (76 hospitalized) were evaluated. The mean age was 75.43 years (± 6.9 SD) and 51.1% male. Barthel index before the infection was 91.1, after 3 months of the infection was 87.1. Cognitive level according to MMSE was 28 (± 3.8 SD)

In the comparison by sex, there was a higher prevalence of depression in women at 3 months (moderate depression 12.21% in men vs. 15.62% in women; severe depression 0% in men vs. 12.54% in women). During the subsequent follow-up, there was an evident improvement both globally and stratified by gender, with the diagnosis of moderate depression being 14.28% in women and 5% in men after one year.

Conclusions

Psychotherapeutic interventions are necessary to allow early intervention to attenuate and reduce the subsequent impact and its sequelae.