Association of Nutritional Status with Physical Function and Disability in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Longitudinal Data Analysis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate how change in nutritional status is associated with physical function and disability among community-dwelling older adults.Methods: Baseline and 1-year follow-up data of 593 community-dwelling older adults were obtained from the Population Health Index survey in Singapore. The Mini Nutritional Assessment was used to assess nutritional status; the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument was used to measure physical function and disability. Multivariate linear regression was applied to examine the association of change in nutritional status with physical function and disability.Results: Compared to older adults with normal nutritional status at both baseline and 1-year follow-up, those who became undernourished or remained undernourished reported poorer physical function (B = –6.36 and –5.96, respectively; both P < 0.01), and had less frequent involvement (B = –3.95 and –2.84, respectively; both P < 0.01) and more limitation in performing life tasks (B = –13.24 and –16.02, respectively; both P < 0.01) at 1-year follow-up. However, older adults with improved nutritional status did not differ in physical function and frequency of involvement in life tasks compared to those with normal nutrition.Conclusion: Undernutrition is associated with poorer physical function and disability in community-dwelling older adults regardless of whether it developed or was persistent over one year. Improving nutritional status could be an effective strategy to improve physical function in older adults.