Association of a Low Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index with Higher Adverse Outcome in the Elderly Patients with Fall Injuries: Analysis of a Propensity Score-Matched Population

Purpose: We evaluate the association of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and the adverse outcome in elderly patients (≥65 years old) with fall injuries.

Patients and methods: Total 1071 elderly patients with fall injuries were enrolled. Patients were divided into four groups: high risk, moderate risk, low risk and no risk (GNRI: <82, 82 to <92, 92 to ≤98 and >98) for patient demography, comorbidities, and adverse outcomes analysis.

Results: After 1:1 propensity score-matched analysis, 97 patients in high-risk group, 144 patients in moderate-risk group, and 114 patients in low-risk group were compared to no risk group. High-risk group patients had a 5.7-fold higher risk of mortality (p = 0.003) and prolong hospital stay (18.0 vs 12.3 days; p = 0.016) when compared to no-risk group patients. Significantly prolong hospital stay were also found in low-risk and moderate-risk group when compared to no risk group.

Conclusion: A lower GNRI is associated with prolonged hospital stay in the elderly patients with fall injuries. High nutritional risk (GNRI < 82) is associated with an increased in-hospital mortality rate.