The Influence of Dysphagia on Nutritional and Frailty Status among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Takahiro Nishida,Sumihisa Honda,Kazumi Yamabe

doi:10.3390/nu13020512

Takahiro Nishida, Sumihisa Honda + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020512

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Journal: Nutrients	Publication Date: Feb 4, 2021
Citations: 27	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Sasebo City General Hospital, Nagasaki University

Abstract

Malnutrition is a core symptom of the frailty cycle in older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dysphagia influences nutrition or frailty status in community-dwelling older adults. The study participants were 320 Japanese community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years. All participants completed a questionnaire survey that included items on age, sex, family structure, self-rated health, nutritional and frailty status, and swallowing function. Nutritional status was categorized as malnourished, at risk of malnutrition, and well-nourished based on the Mini Nutrition Assessment-Short Form. The participants were then classified into a malnutrition (malnourished/at risk) or a well-nourished group (well-nourished). Frailty was assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. The participants were then divided into a frailty (frail/pre-frail) or a non-frailty group (robust). Dysphagia was screened using the 10-item Eating Assessment Tool. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine whether dysphagia was associated with nutritional or frailty status. The results revealed that dysphagia influenced both nutrition (odds ratio [OR]: 4.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9–8.2) and frailty status (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.0–5.2); therefore, the swallowing function would be an important factor for community-dwelling older adults on frailty prevention programs.

Highlights

Frailty prevention is being increasingly implemented in aging societies such as Japan, where the prevalence of frailty among the older population is reported to be around10% [1,2]
The results revealed that dysphagia influenced both nutrition and frailty status (OR: 2.3; 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.0–5.2); the swallowing function would be an important factor for community-dwelling older adults on frailty prevention programs
From the perspective of distinguishing pathological conditions between malnutrition and physical frailty, we investigated the associations between swallowing function and nutritional or frailty status among community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years

Summary

Introduction

Frailty prevention is being increasingly implemented in aging societies such as Japan, where the prevalence of frailty among the older population is reported to be around10% [1,2]. Frailty prevention is being increasingly implemented in aging societies such as Japan, where the prevalence of frailty among the older population is reported to be around. Since frailty is expected to be modified by early detection and intervention, frailty prevention programs at a public hall are recommended for community-dwelling older adults in Japan [1,2]. Malnutrition has been defined as an imbalance of energy, protein, and other nutrients that causes negative effects on body composition, physical function, and clinical outcomes [5]. Sufficient nutritional intake, such as protein and energy, is recommended in combination with training for muscle strengthening, such as resistance training, in frailty prevention programs among older people [8]

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