Association of poor oral health status and faecal incontinence in patients with dysphagia: A cross-sectional analysis from the Sarcopenic Dysphagia Database.

BACKGROUND: Poor oral health status may alter oral and gut microbiota. Previous studies have shown that poor oral health can exacerbate gut inflammation. Therefore, poor oral health status may be related to faecal incontinence via changes in the gut. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between poor oral health status and faecal incontinence in inpatients with dysphagia. METHODS: This multicentre cross-sectional study included 423 patients (mean age 79.8 ± 11.5 years, 48.2% female) with dysphagia. Oral health status was assessed at each facility using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) or the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG). Poor oral health status was defined as an OHAT score of ≥3 or a ROAG score of ≥13. A multivariate logistic model was used to analyse the association between poor oral health status and faecal incontinence. RESULTS: A total of 351 (83.0%) patients had poor oral health and 97 (22.7%) had faecal incontinence. Patients with poor oral health status had a higher proportion of faecal incontinence than those with normal oral health status (25.4% vs. 11.1%, p = .009). A multivariate logistic model revealed an association between faecal incontinence and poor oral health status (adjusted odds ratio = 2.501, 95% confidence interval = 1.065-5.873, p = .035). CONCLUSIONS: Poor oral health status assessed by OHAT or ROAG in inpatients with dysphagia may adversely affect faecal incontinence. Further studies are needed to determine the causal relationship between poor oral health status and faecal incontinence.

Predictive validity of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form for rehabilitation patients: A retrospective analysis of the Japan Rehabilitation Nutrition Database.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is associated with worse outcome in rehabilitation patients; however, appropriate malnutrition screening tools for this population have not been investigated. We examined the predictive validity of specific cut-off values of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form version 2 (MNA-SFv2) for Japanese rehabilitation patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed adult patients (≥ 20 years) in the Japan Rehabilitation Nutrition Database who were in convalescent rehabilitation wards after stroke or hip fracture. Patients were classified into three categories based on MNA-SFv2 original (0-7, 8-11 and 12-14 points, respectively) or modified (0-5, 6-7 and 8-14 points, respectively) cut-off values: malnutrition, at risk of malnutrition or well-nourished. Functional independence measure (FIM) and home discharge were compared between the categories. RESULTS: Overall, 489 patients were analyzed. Based on the MNA-SFv2 original and modified cut-off values, 64.4% and 36.0% were malnourished, 32.3% and 28.4% were at risk of malnutrition, and 3.3% and 35.6% were well-nourished, respectively. Malnutrition defined by both cut-off values was significantly associated with the FIM at admission, whereas only those defined by modified cut-off values predicted the FIM at discharge (B, -7.1; 95% confidence interval = -12.3 to -1.9). Neither original, nor modified cut-off values predicted discharge to home and long-term care facilities. CONCLUSIONS: An MNA-SFv2 score of 0-5 points may be useful to identify Japanese patients with poor outcomes in a rehabilitation setting.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Sarcopenic Dysphagia: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenic dysphagia is a swallowing disorder due to sarcopenia involving the whole-body skeletal muscles and swallowing muscles. This scoping review aimed to explore the currently known information on the diagnosis and treatment of sarcopenic dysphagia and to clarify the types of research required to develop the field. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases from their inception to October 2020, using the search terms "(sarcopenia or sarcopenic or myopenia or dynapenia) and (dysphagia or swallowing or deglutition) and (diagnosis or treatment)". Articles reporting diagnosis method and treatment of sarcopenic dysphagia were included. RESULTS: Twenty-one and eight articles reported on the diagnostic and treatment method, respectively. A diagnostic algorithm for sarcopenic dysphagia was most frequently used (n = 10). Other diagnostic methods included consensus diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic dysphagia (n = 4), sarcopenia and dysphagia without other causes of dysphagia (n = 4), and both sarcopenia and dysphagia (n = 3). The medical treatments for patients with sarcopenic dysphagia were described in single-patient case reports (n = 8) only. There were six articles reporting on a combination of rehabilitation and nutritional support. These reports showed the importance of interdisciplinary rehabilitation nutrition for improving patients' nutritional status and sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: A reliable and validated diagnostic algorithm was the most widely used diagnostic method for sarcopenic dysphagia. Only case reports have been published for the medical treatment of patients with sarcopenic dysphagia. Interdisciplinary rehabilitation nutrition may be useful for treating patients with sarcopenic dysphagia.

Association Between Weight Loss and Activities of Daily Living in Obese and Overweight Patients after Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Whether weight loss during hospitalization is associated with improvement in activities of daily living (ADL) in overweight and obese stroke patients remains unclear. This study investigated the association between decreases in body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM), and fat mass (FM) and ADL improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data of patients admitted to acute care hospitals with stroke. Patients were classified into two groups based on their change in BMI during their hospital stay (i.e. decreased or nondecreased group). To control and adjust for patient characteristics and confounders, we created an inverse probability-weighted (IPW) model using propensity scoring, which was used to compare the Functional Independence Measure Motor (FIM-M) efficacy between the two groups. We also compared FFM and FM between admission and discharge in each group. RESULTS: A total of 556 patients were analyzed, among whom 391 (70.3%) had a decrease in BMI and 165 (29.7%) had a nondecrease. After IPW adjustment, efficiency of FIM-M was significantly higher in the nondecreased group as compared to that in the decreased group (median: 0.44 vs. 0.29, P < 0.001). FFM and FM were significantly decreased from admission to discharge in the decreased group, but there was no significanct difference observed in the nondecreased group. Preserving BMI during hospitalization was associated with a positive improvement in ADL in overweight and obese stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Risks and benefits of weight loss should be balanced in nutritional care and rehabilitation for overweight and obese stroke patients.

[Aging-related frailty and sarcopenia. Nutrition intervention for individuals with frailty and sarcopenia.]

Malnutrition results in frailty and sarcopenia, and its prevalence in individuals with frailty and sarcopenia is 16%~18%and 50%, respectively. A lower protein intake exacerbates the risk for frailty onset. Previous studies reporting nutritional intervention in older adults with frailty recommended screening for unintentional weight loss, providing adequate energy and protein, and correcting vitamin D deficiency. In contrast, several clinical trials reported that the effects of nutritional intervention for individuals with sarcopenia were diverse and depended on the nutrients used for each study and outcomes. The 2017 version of the clinical practice guidelines for sarcopenia weakly recommends nutritional therapy, particularly using essential amino acids. It is imperative that older adults with frailty and sarcopenia receive the best nutritional care based on personalized nutritional assessment.

High Nutritional-Related Risk on Admission Predicts Less Improvement of Functional Independence Measure in Geriatric Stroke Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to establish whether high nutritional-related risk on admission predicts less improvement of Functional Independence Measure (FIM) in geriatric stroke patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted for stroke at 5 major hospitals in the Noto district of Japan from July 2009 to June 2013. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) at admission. Patient characteristics were compared between the low GNRI (<92) and high GNRI (≥92) groups. We assessed nutritional status using GNRI and activities of daily living using the FIM. RESULTS: A total of 540 participants (mean age, 80 years; interquartile range, 75-85 years) were included in the present study. Patients were admitted because of cerebral infarction (394 patients), intracerebral hemorrhage (123 patients), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (23 patients). Univariate analysis of FIM gain demonstrated significant differences between groups. Multivariate analysis of FIM gain adjusting for confounding factors demonstrated age (ß = -.139; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -.629 to -.140), cerebral infarction (ß = -.264; 95% CI = -12.956 to -6.729), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (ß = -.180; 95% CI = -.688 to -.248), and GNRI score (ß = .089; 95% CI = .010-.347) as independent factors associated with FIM gain (P < .05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: GNRI at admission may independently predict FIM gain. Poor nutritional status is a predictor of lower FIM improvement in geriatric stroke patients.

Nutritional Improvement and Energy Intake Are Associated with Functional Recovery in Patients after Cerebrovascular Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition affects the activities of daily living (ADLs) in convalescent patients with cerebrovascular disorders. We investigated the relationship between nutritional improvement, energy intake at admission, and recovery of ADLs. METHODS: We evaluated 67 patients with cerebrovascular disorders admitted to our rehabilitation hospital between April 2013 and April 2015. These patients received interventions from the rehabilitation nutritional support team according to the following criteria: weight loss of 2 kg or more and body mass index of 19 kg/m(2) or lower. Exclusion criteria included a body mass index of 25 kg/m(2) or higher, duration of intervention of less than 14 days, or transfer to an acute care hospital because of clinical deterioration. We assessed nutritional status using the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and ADL using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score, FIM gain, and FIM efficiency. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 78.7 ± 8.0 years. The numbers of patients in each category of cerebrovascular disorder were 39 with cerebral infarction, 16 with intracerebral hemorrhage, 8 with subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 4 others. Compared with the counterpart group, the group with an improvement in GNRI had a greater gain in FIM (median 17 and 20, respectively; P = .036) and a higher FIM efficiency (.14 and .22, respectively; P = .020). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that an improvement in GNRI, increasing energy intake at admission, and intracerebral hemorrhage were associated independently with greater FIM efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that nutritional improvement and energy intake at admission are associated with recovery of ADL after cerebrovascular disorders.

Obese Japanese Patients with Stroke Have Higher Functional Recovery in Convalescent Rehabilitation Wards: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: A protective effect of excessive body mass index (BMI) on mortality or functional outcome in patients with stroke is not well established in the Asian population. This study aimed to explore whether obese patients with stroke have advantages for functional improvement in Japanese rehabilitation wards. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients with stroke admitted and discharged from convalescent rehabilitation wards between 2011 and 2015. Demographic data, BMI, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score, and nutritional status were analyzed. Participants were classified into 4 groups according to BMI (underweight <18.5 kg/m(2), standard 18.5-<23 kg/m(2), overweight 23-<27.5 kg/m(2), obese ≥27.5 kg/m(2)). The primary outcome was the FIM gain, and the secondary outcome was the FIM score at discharge. Multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between BMI and functional recovery. RESULTS: In total, 897 participants (males 484, females 413; mean age 71.6 years) were analyzed and classified as underweight (134), standard (432), overweight (277), and obese (54). The median FIM gain and the FIM score at discharge were 30 and 114, respectively. The FIM gain in the obese group was significantly higher than those in the other groups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that obesity was independently correlated with the FIM gain, and those at discharge after adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, and FIM score on admission. CONCLUSIONS: Obese Japanese convalescent patients with stroke may have some advantages for functional recovery in rehabilitation wards.

Implementation of nutritional screening tools, nutritional assessment tools, and diagnostic criteria for malnutrition in convalescent rehabilitation wards: A nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The utilization of recommended nutritional assessment measures in rehabilitation settings remains unclear. This study explored methods for identifying nutritional disorders using data from a nationwide survey conducted in convalescent rehabilitation wards. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed the annual survey, including methods for identifying malnutrition, the risk of malnutrition, and overnutrition in Kaifukuki (convalescent) rehabilitation wards. Methods identifying malnutrition and risk of malnutrition were grouped into nutritional screening tools (NSTs), nutritional assessment tools (NATs), diagnostic criteria for malnutrition (DCM), and suboptimal methods (e.g., hypoalbuminemia). NSTs, NATs, and DCM were further categorized as "acceptable tools." The association between applying acceptable tools, hospital-based data (e.g., the number of beds), and ward-based data (e.g., assessor for nutritional status) was analyzed by logistic regression analysis with multiple imputations. RESULTS: In total, 885 hospitals with Kaifukuki rehabilitation wards responded to the survey, and 754 hospitals were included in the analysis. Registered dietitians assessed the nutritional status in 88% of the hospitals, whereas other professionals (e.g., nurses) evaluated the nutritional status in the remainder. NSTs (e.g., Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form), NATs (e.g., Subjective Global Assessment), DCM (e.g., Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria), and suboptimal tools were used in 13.1%, 5.4%, 4.8%, and 74.6% of cases, respectively. Most hospitals used acceptable measures (e.g., body mass index) for overnutrition (91.2%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that assessments by registered dietitians (adjusted odds ratio[OR]: 2.20.95% confidence interval[CI]: 1.09-4.45) and hospital-owned food services, a proxy for limited clinical practice time of dietitians, were associated with a low likelihood of implementing acceptable measures (adjusted OR: 0.64, 95%CI: 0.43-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Acceptable malnutrition measures, including the NSTs, NATs, and DCM, have not been widely applied in convalescent rehabilitation settings. The implementation of recommended tools for identifying malnutrition may be promoted when registered dietitians assess the patients' nutritional status.

Measures for Identifying Malnutrition in Geriatric Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.

Malnutrition is a common condition in geriatric rehabilitation settings; however, the accuracy and predictive validity of the measures to identify malnutrition have not been established. The current scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute's evidence synthesis manual and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. Literature published through September 2023 was searched using MEDLINE and CINAHL. The inclusion criteria selected studies reporting malnutrition measures, which include static body weight and weight loss. Identified tools were classified as nutritional screening tools, nutritional assessment tools, or diagnostic criteria. The domains of each tool/criterion and their accuracy and predictive validity were extracted. Fifty-six articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and six nutritional screening tools, three nutritional assessment tools, and three diagnostic criteria for malnutrition were identified. These measures consisted of various phenotypes, e.g., weight loss, causes such as inflammation/disease, and risk factors of malnutrition, e.g., functional impairment. The predictive validity of nutritional screening tools (n = 6) and malnutrition diagnostic criteria (n = 5) were inconsistently reported, whereas those for nutritional assessment tools were scarce (n = 1). These findings highlight the need to distinguish the functional impairment of nutritional origin from that of non-nutritional origin in nutritional assessment procedures, and the need to study the accuracy and the predictive validity of these measures in geriatric rehabilitation patients.

Malnutrition and cachexia may affect death but not functional improvement in patients with sarcopenic dysphagia.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether two factors, malnutrition and cachexia, affect swallowing function, activities of daily living (ADL), and death in sarcopenic dysphagia. METHODS: Of 467 patients enrolled in the Japanese Sarcopenic Dysphagia Database, 271 met the study eligibility criteria in a retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into four groups based on whether they had cachexia according to the Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC) criteria and malnutrition according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the differences in changes in the Food Intake LEVEL Scale (FILS) and Barthel Index (BI) and death after follow-up between the malnutrition and cachexia group and the other groups. RESULTS: The mean age was 83.7 ± 8.3 years, 119 (44%) were men and 152 (56%) were women. The median FILS at baseline was 7 and the median BI was 25. A total of 120 (44%) had malnutrition only, 54 (20%) had neither cachexia nor malnutrition, 12 (4%) had cachexia only, and 85 (31%) had both cachexia and malnutrition. Multivariate analyses showed no significant difference between the change in BI (P = 0.688) and the change in FILS (P = 0.928) between the malnutrition and cachexia group and the other groups; however, death increased significantly (P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Some patients diagnosed with cachexia were not malnourished, although many patients with cachexia were malnourished. While patients with both cachexia and malnutrition did not show significant improvement in ADL and swallowing function compared with patients without both conditions, the number of deaths increased significantly.

Association between sarcopenia at discharge and functional outcomes 1 month and 6 months after discharge in patients in convalescent rehabilitation wards.

AIM: This retrospective cohort study investigated the relationship between sarcopenia and Activities of Daily Living capacity after discharge from convalescent rehabilitation wards. METHODS: We included consecutive patients discharged from three convalescent rehabilitation wards in a hospital in Japan between December 2018 and October 2020. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the criteria of the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia, utilizing skeletal muscle mass index and handgrip strength. Statistical analyses were carried out separately for men and women. The primary outcome was a higher motor domain (motor Functional Independence Measure [mFIM]) and a higher cognitive domain (cognitive Functional Independence Measure [cFIM]) of the FIM score 1 month after discharge. The secondary outcomes were higher mFIM and cFIM scores 6 months after discharge, analyzed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 305 participants (mean age 70.0 years, 148 men), 93 were identified as having sarcopenia. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 16% for outpatient rehabilitation services, 59% for home-visit rehabilitation services and 50% for older adult day care. Logistic regression analyses showed that sarcopenia at discharge was not an independent variable for mFIM at 1 month (odds ratio [OR] 20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31-1300 for men, OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.11-2.4 for women) and cFIM (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.10-3.8 for men, OR 5.3, 95% CI 0.81-34 for women). At 6 months, sarcopenia at discharge was not an independent variable for mFIM (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.02-3.6 for men, OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.06-2.5 for women) and cFIM (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.01-2.4 for men, OR 0.00, 95% CI 0.00-1.1 for women). CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia at the time of discharge from convalescent rehabilitation wards does not independently predict FIM 1 month or 6 months after discharge. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 715-721.

Prevalence and prognosis of cachexia according to the Asian Working Group for Cachexia criteria in sarcopenic dysphagia: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim to examine the prevalence and prognosis of cachexia according to the Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC) criteria in patients with sarcopenic dysphagia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 271 patients diagnosed with sarcopenic dysphagia out of 467 patients enrolled in the Japanese sarcopenic dysphagia database. Cachexia was diagnosed by the AWGC criteria. The AWGC criteria includes chronic diseases, either or both weight loss (2% or more over 3-6 mo) or low BMI (<21 kg/m2), and at least one of the following: anorexia, decreased grip strength (<28 kg in men and <18 kg in women), or elevated C-reactive protein levels (>0.5 mg/dL). Outcomes were death, swallowing function as assessed by the Food Intake LEVEL Scale (FILS), and activities of daily living as assessed by the Barthel Index (BI) at follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age was 84 (±8) y; 152 (56%) were female, and 97 (36%) had cachexia. In univariate analysis, death was significantly more common in the cachexia group (15% versus 2%, P ≤ 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that cachexia was independently associated with death (odds ratio: 3.557, 95% confidence interval: 1.010, 12.529). No significant differences were found in the presence or absence of cachexia in the FILS (7 versus 8, P = 0.849) and BI (55 versus 52.5, P = 0.892). CONCLUSIONS: Cachexia was found in 36% of patients with sarcopenic dysphagia, and death was significantly higher in cachexia.

Psychological aspects of rehabilitation nutrition: A position paper by the Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Nutrition (secondary publication).

Psychological aspects of rehabilitation nutrition affect physical, cognitive, and social rehabilitation nutrition. When depression is recognized, not only pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, but also non-pharmacological therapies such as exercise, nutrition, psychosocial, and other interventions can be expected to improve depression. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and intervention without overlooking depression is important. Psychological aspects of preventive rehabilitation nutrition is also important because depression can be partially prevented by appropriate exercise and nutritional management. Even in the absence of psychological negatives, increasing more psychological positives from a positive psychology perspective can be useful for both patients and healthcare professionals. Positive rehabilitation nutrition interventions can increase more psychological positives, such as well-being, through cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness on their own, as well as through interventions on environmental factors. Consequently, physical, cognitive, and social positives are also expected to be enhanced.

Polypharmacy, Potentially Inappropriate Medications, and Dysphagia in Older Inpatients: A Multi-Center Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Although the relationship between medication status, symptomatology, and outcomes has been evaluated, data on the prevalence of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and the association of polypharmacy and PIMs with swallowing function during follow-up are limited among hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years with dysphagia. METHODS: In this 19-center cohort study, we registered 467 inpatients aged ≥65 years and evaluated those with the Food Intake LEVEL Scale (FILS) scores ≤8 between November 2019 and March 2021. Polypharmacy was defined as prescribing ≥5 medications and PIMs were identified based on the 2023 Updated Beers Criteria. We applied a generalized linear regression model to examine the association of polypharmacy and PIMs with FILS score at discharge. RESULTS: We analyzed 399 participants (median age, 83.0 years; males, 49.8%). The median follow-up was 51.0 days (interquartile range, 22.0-84.0 days). Polypharmacy and PIMs were present in 67.7% of and 56.1% of patients, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, neither polypharmacy (ß = 0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.04-0.13, p=0.30) nor non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (ß = 0.09; 95% CI, -0.02-0.19; p=0.10) were significantly associated with FILS score at discharge. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated a high proportion of polypharmacy and PIMs among inpatients aged ≥65 years with dysphagia. Although these prescribed conditions were not significantly associated with swallowing function at discharge, our findings suggest the importance of regularly reviewing medications to ensure the appropriateness of prescriptions when managing older inpatients.

The Prevalence and Prognosis of Cachexia in Patients with Non-Sarcopenic Dysphagia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and prognosis of cachexia in patients with non-sarcopenic dysphagia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Japanese sarcopenic dysphagia database. Cachexia was diagnosed using the Asian Working Group for Cachexia criteria, sarcopenia using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria, and malnutrition using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria. Outcomes were death, swallowing function (Food Intake LEVEL Scale (FILS)), and activities of daily living (Barthel Index (BI)). The mean age of the 175 non-sarcopenic dysphagia patients was 77 (±11) years; 103 (59%) were male, 30 (17%) had cachexia, 133 (76%) had whole-body sarcopenia, and 92 (53%) were malnourished. Of the 30 patients with cachexia, 4 and 11 did not have sarcopenia and malnutrition, respectively. No significant associations were found between cachexia, sarcopenia, and malnutrition. Death was notably higher in the cachexia group (5/30; 17% vs. 2/145; 1%, p = 0.002). Median FILS (7 vs. 8, p = 0.585) and median BI (35 vs. 50, p = 0.469) scores did not show significant differences based on cachexia status. The prevalence of cachexia was 17%, and mortality may be higher with cachexia in non-sarcopenic dysphagia patients.

Prevention and Treatment of Malnutrition in Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care or the Community: An Evidence-Based Nutrition Practice Guideline.

Malnutrition in older adults can decrease quality of life and increase risk of morbidities and mortality. Accurate and timely identification of malnutrition, as well as subsequent implementation of effective interventions, are essential to decrease poor outcomes associated with malnutrition in older adults. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Center conducted a systematic review of the literature to develop an evidence-based nutrition practice guideline for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in older adults. The objective of this guideline was to provide evidence-based recommendations to identify, prevent, or treat protein-energy malnutrition in older adults (mean age ≥65 years) living in long-term care and community settings. This guideline provides 11 nutrition recommendations to inform shared decision making among dietitians, members of the health care team, family members or caregivers, and older adults living in long-term care or the community to prevent or treat malnutrition. Topics include dietitian effectiveness, nutrition assessment tools, oral nutrition supplements, food fortification, and home-delivered and congregate meals. Guideline implementation should include consideration of the importance of comprehensive individualized nutrition care for older adults. Future research is needed to address gaps that were identified related to the validity, reliability, and feasibility of nutrition assessment tools, as well as the effectiveness of dietitian interventions on outcomes of interest in older adults living in long-term care and the community.

Association between sarcopenia and urinary dysfunction in patients with dysphagia.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to determine the relationship between sarcopenia and urinary dysfunction in patients with dysphagia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 460 Japanese Sarcopenic Dysphagia Database participants. Urinary dysfunction was defined as either urinary incontinence or urethral catheter use. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Univariate and multivariate analyses assessed the association between urinary dysfunction and sarcopenia, calf circumference (CC), handgrip strength (HGS), and Barthel Index (BI). Logistic regression analysis was performed for urinary dysfunction adjusted for age, sex, setting, and CCI in addition to BI and HGS or CC or sarcopenia (model 1) or FILS and BI (model 2). RESULTS: The mean age was 80.8 ± 10.5 years and urinary dysfunction in 137 participants. Urinary dysfunction was not associated with sarcopenia (123 versus 281, p = 0.440) but was associated with CC (27.4 ± 4.2 versus 28.5 ± 3.9, p = 0.009), HGS (9.7 ± 7.9 versus 14.4 ± 9.3, p < 0.001), and BI (19.9 ± 0.3 versus 20.3 ± 0.2, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed urinary dysfunction was associated with HGS (OR: 0.968, CI: 0.938, 0.998) and BI (OR: 0.955, CI: 0.943, 0.966). The cutoff was 19 kg for men (sensitivity 0.786, specificity 0.56, Area Under Curve (AUC) 0.689) and 6.1 kg for women (sensitivity 0.493, specificity 0.774, AUC 0.639) in HGS and 27.5 points in BI (sensitivity 0.781, specificity 0.604, AUC 0.740). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia was not associated with urinary dysfunction. However, HGS and BI were related to urinary dysfunction.

Concurrent and predictive validity of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria for adult patients in convalescent rehabilitation wards.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria has been recognised as major diagnostic criteria for malnutrition in adults worldwide; however, its validity in rehabilitation settings remains unclear. This study investigated the concurrent and predictive validity of the GLIM criteria for adult patients in convalescent rehabilitation wards. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using pre-established datasets from convalescent rehabilitation wards in a hospital. The inclusion criteria were adults aged ≥18 years admitted to the wards between November 2018 and October 2020 who were available for body composition assessment. Malnutrition diagnoses were determined by registered dietitians (RDs) using the GLIM criteria. The Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) was performed by another RD and used for the malnutrition reference standard. The GLIM criteria sensitivity and specificity were examined for SGA. The odds ratios and hazard ratios of GLIM-defined malnutrition for the total score of the Functional Independence Measure (tFIM) effectiveness and non-home discharge were calculated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses and Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Data from 723 patients were extracted from the dataset. GLIM-defined malnutrition was confirmed in 207 (28.6%) patients, 87 (12.0%) with moderate malnutrition and 120 (16.6%) with severe malnutrition. The SGA graded 146 (20.2%) patients with moderate malnutrition (grade B) and 86 (11.9%) with severe malnutrition (grade C). The GLIM criteria (malnutrition/no malnutrition) had fair sensitivity (76.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 70.7-82.0%) and good specificity (94.1%, 95% CI: 91.6-96.0%), indicating acceptable concurrent validity. GLIM-defined moderate malnutrition had poorer sensitivity than severe malnutrition (42.5% vs 81.4%). Logistic regression analyses revealed no evidence for the association between GLIM-defined malnutrition and poor tFIM effectiveness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.71-1.69) and non-home discharge (AOR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.76-1.84). The Cox proportional hazard analyses also showed no effect of malnutrition on outcomes. CONCLUSION: The GLIM criteria had fair sensitivity and good specificity, indicating acceptable criteria for diagnosing malnutrition in rehabilitation settings. However, its predictive validity for functional recovery and discharge outcomes was insufficient.

Cutoff value of the geniohyoid muscle mass to identify sarcopenic dysphagia by ultrasonography.

PURPOSE: Determining the strength and area of the swallowing muscles is important in patients with sarcopenic dysphagia. Although the normative data on the strength of the swallowing muscles have been reported, those of the area of the geniohyoid muscle are poorly investigated. We investigated the cross-sectional area of the geniohyoid muscle in Japanese subjects without dysphagia using ultrasonography to determine the normative and cut-off values. METHODS: 142 subjects without dysphagia were included. The older group (age ≥ 65 years) included 36 (women 27/men 9) subjects, and the younger group (age ≤ 39 years) included 106 (women 54/men 52) subjects. The cross-sectional area of the geniohyoid muscle was measured by ultrasound. The mean of the younger group-2 standard deviation (SD) was calculated and used as a cut-off value for low swallowing muscle mass. RESULTS: The mean (SD) of the area of the geniohyoid muscle of each group was as follows: older women group 167.2 (32.6) mm2, older men group 193.2 (49.5) mm2, younger women group 247.3 (37.4) mm2, younger men group 313.1 (59.2) mm2. The mean 2SD of the geniohyoid muscle area in the younger women group was 172.5 mm2 and in the younger men group 194.7 mm2. CONCLUSION: We found that the cut-off value of the ultrasonographic cross-sectional area of the geniohyoid muscle was 172.5 mm2 for women and 194.7 mm2 for men. These values could be used as cut-off values for the mass of the geniohyoid muscle to identify patients with sarcopenic dysphagia.