Risk Factors For Undernutrition Research Articles

Accuracy of Minimum Data Set in Identifying Residents at Risk for Undernutrition: Oral Intake and Food Complaints

Objective to evaluate the accuracy of nursing home (NH) staff in documenting two Minimum Data Set (MDS) items that are used to identify residents at risk for undernutrition, low oral intake and food complaints, using standardized observation and interview assessment protocols implemented by research staff. Design and Methods MDS information related to low oral intake (item K4c: <75% of most meals) and complaints about the taste of food (item K4a) was compared to independent evaluations of low oral intake and food complaints for a random sample of 75 residents in two proprietary NHs within the same month that a complete MDS assessment was due for each participant. Direct observations were conducted by research staff during nine mealtime periods for 3 consecutive days according to a standardized mealtime observational protocol to estimate low oral intake; and, two one-on-one interviews with residents were conducted on two consecutive days using standardized questions to assess the stability of food complaints. Results Research staff documentation based on direct observation and resident interviews showed a significantly larger number of residents being identified as potentially at risk for undernutrition due to low oral intake (73%) and/or stable complaints about the taste of food (32%) as compared with NH staff documentation of MDS items K4c (44%) and K4a (0%), respectively, within the same month. A total of 47% of the participants expressed stable complaints about some aspect of the NH food service (eg, variety, appearance, temperature). Conclusion The documentation of low oral intake and food complaints on the MDS was inaccurate and resulted in a significant underestimate of residents with either of these risk factors for undernutrition. to evaluate the accuracy of nursing home (NH) staff in documenting two Minimum Data Set (MDS) items that are used to identify residents at risk for undernutrition, low oral intake and food complaints, using standardized observation and interview assessment protocols implemented by research staff. MDS information related to low oral intake (item K4c: <75% of most meals) and complaints about the taste of food (item K4a) was compared to independent evaluations of low oral intake and food complaints for a random sample of 75 residents in two proprietary NHs within the same month that a complete MDS assessment was due for each participant. Direct observations were conducted by research staff during nine mealtime periods for 3 consecutive days according to a standardized mealtime observational protocol to estimate low oral intake; and, two one-on-one interviews with residents were conducted on two consecutive days using standardized questions to assess the stability of food complaints. Research staff documentation based on direct observation and resident interviews showed a significantly larger number of residents being identified as potentially at risk for undernutrition due to low oral intake (73%) and/or stable complaints about the taste of food (32%) as compared with NH staff documentation of MDS items K4c (44%) and K4a (0%), respectively, within the same month. A total of 47% of the participants expressed stable complaints about some aspect of the NH food service (eg, variety, appearance, temperature). The documentation of low oral intake and food complaints on the MDS was inaccurate and resulted in a significant underestimate of residents with either of these risk factors for undernutrition.

Undernutrition prevalence and social determinants in children aged 0-59 months, Niterói, Brazil

Objective : With the aim of diagnosing the nutritional status and nutritional social-economic determinants in children aged 0-59 months, 2194 children were studied in the three Health Districts of the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Materials and methods : Data were obtained through a random sampling survey performed in the city's vaccination centres. Variables collected were maternal schooling, family income, dwelling's connection to safe water, dwelling's sewage connection, birthweight and the anthropometric indicators height / age ( H / A; for stunting), weight/height ( W / H ; for wasting) and weight / age ( W / A ; for underweight). Undernutrition risk factors were identified with the help of logistic regression models for the age ranges 0-12 and 13-36 months. Results : Stunting and underweight levels were found to be above those of the NCHS reference, although, in general, at levels better than those frequently found in Third World countries. Low birthweight prevalence in the city was 9%, also above common levels in more developed countries. Undernutrition risks were, in general, higher for the younger age range. The variables family income, maternal schooling, water connection and birthweight could be characterized as important undernutrition risk factors, being most noticeable the effects of family income and birthweight both for the '0-12 months' and for the 'above 13 months' age ranges. Conclusions : Although the city's problems are mostly concentrated on chronic undernutrition, more attention should be given to children's birthweight deficits, which appear to have effects on children's growth that extend for years after birth.

Defining Undernutrition for Public Health Purposes in the United States

Lack of consistency among definitions of undernutrition used for different public health purposes in the United States hinders an effective diagnosis of the problem and the design of interventions to prevent and treat undernutrition. No single-case definition of undernutrition is appropriate for all purposes. These purposes include surveillance of the prevalence of undernutrition in the population, epidemiological research on risk factors and consequences of undernutrition within population subgroups and communities, and screening, monitoring and evaluation of nutritional programs. We recommend that a cut-off of -2.0 SD (2.3 percentile) for weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height on National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference growth charts be used to estimate and monitor the prevalence of undernutrition in the United States, in accordance with guidelines of the World Health Organization. Epidemiological research on population-based risk factors for undernutrition and its functional consequences is required to identify the appropriate nutritional indicator and cut-off for screening and monitoring and evaluation of interventions.

Under-five malnutrition in a South-Eastern Nigeria metropolitan city.

Malnutrition (under and overnutrition) presents significant threats to child health. The co-existence of under and overnutrition in a population is increasingly being described in the literature. To identify the prevalence of malnutrition among under-five children in Enugu metropolis. A cross-sectional study of pre-primary school children conducted from January to May 2016. using stratified sampling technique. Caregiver-administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information. Weights and heights were measured using a standard weight scale and stadiometer/ length mat respectively. Wasting, stunting, overweight and obesity were determined based on the recommended WHO Growth Standard. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 20.0. The associations between nutritional status on one hand, and categorical variables such as age grouping, sex, socio-economic status, and maternal education were determined using chi square. P-value < 0.05 were reported as statistically significant. Eighteen (2.4%) and 26 (3.5%) subjects were wasted and stunted respectively. Eleven (1.5%) subjects were overweight while another 11(1.5%) subjects were obese. Risk factors for undernutrition were maternal education and low socioeconomic class while risk factor for overnutrition was upper socioeconomic class.. There is a low rate of malnutrition in the area of study. However, sustained efforts must continue to prevent further rise and possibly eliminate the scourge of malnutrition.