Mild Cognitive Impairment Is Associated with Poorer Nutritional Status on Hospital Admission and after Discharge in Acutely Hospitalized Older Patients

Olivia Bornæs; Aino L Andersen; Morten B Houlind; Thomas Kallemose; Juliette Tavenier; Anissa Aharaz; Rikke L Nielsen; Lillian M Jørgensen; Anne M Beck; Ove Andersen; Janne Petersen; Mette M Pedersen

doi:10.3390/geriatrics7050095

Mild Cognitive Impairment Is Associated with Poorer Nutritional Status on Hospital Admission and after Discharge in Acutely Hospitalized Older Patients

Geriatrics (Basel). 2022 Sep 10;7(5):95. doi: 10.3390/geriatrics7050095.

Authors

Olivia Bornæs¹, Aino L Andersen¹, Morten B Houlind^{1

2

3}, Thomas Kallemose¹, Juliette Tavenier¹, Anissa Aharaz^{1

2}, Rikke L Nielsen¹, Lillian M Jørgensen^{1

4}, Anne M Beck⁵, Ove Andersen^{1

4

6}, Janne Petersen^{1

7

8}, Mette M Pedersen^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.
² The Hospital Pharmacy, The Capital Region of Denmark, Marielundsvej 25, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.
³ Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁴ The Emergency Department, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Kettegaard Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.
⁵ Dietetic and Nutritional Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev-Gentofte, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 50, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.
⁶ Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁷ Copenhagen Phase IV Unit, Center of Clinical Research and Prevention, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Nordre Fasanvej 57, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
⁸ Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Abstract

In acutely hospitalized older patients (≥65 years), the association between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and malnutrition is poorly described. We hypothesized that (1) MCI is associated with nutritional status on admission and after discharge; (2) MCI is associated with a change in nutritional status; and (3) a potential association is partly explained by frailty, comorbidity, medication use, and age. We combined data from a randomized controlled trial (control group data) and a prospective cohort study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01964482 and NCT03052192). Nutritional status was assessed on admission and follow-up using the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form. MCI or intact cognition (noMCI) was classified by three cognitive performance tests at follow-up. Data on frailty, comorbidity, medication use, and age were drawn from patient journals. MCI (n = 42) compared to noMCI (n = 47) was associated with poorer nutritional status with an average difference of -1.29 points (CI: -2.30; -0.28) on admission and -1.64 points (CI: -2.57; -0.70) at 4-week follow-up. Only age influenced the estimates of -0.85 (CI: -1.86; 0.17) and -1.29 (CI: -2.25; -0.34), respectively. In acutely hospitalized older patients, there is an association between MCI and poorer nutritional status upon admission and four weeks after discharge. The association is partly explained by higher age.

Keywords: acute admission; cognitive dysfunction; comorbidity; frailty; hospital; malnutrition; medication; nutritional status; older adults.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03052192
ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01964482

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark. Further, FAM-CPH was funded by Doctor Sofus Carl Emil Friis’ and his wife’s (Olga Doris Friis’) scholarship (01/2018), Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark (12/2017 and 09/2018); the Capital Region Pharmacy; the Toyota Foundation (grant number KJ/BG-9305 F); and the Capital Region of Denmark (04/2016). STAND-Cph was funded by the Danish Ministry of Health (grant number 9170); Danish Regions/The Danish Health Confederation (OK11); the Lundbeck Foundation; (UCSF) (grant numbers FP 07/2012, FP 48/2012 and FP 61/2013); the Research Foundation of Hvidovre Hospital (06/2012); the Capital Region of Copenhagen (04/2013); and the Danish Foundation for Research in Physiotherapy (grant numbers 11/2012, 09/2013, 01/2013, 07/2013 and 12/2013).