Risk of Malnutrition and Insufficient Protein Intake among Older People Living at Home: Baseline Findings of the Power Meals Study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status, nutrient intake and associated factors among older home care clients, caregivers and care recipients (≥65 years) living at home. There were a total of 78 participants, with a mean age of 78 ± 7.4 years. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), nutrient intake with a three-day food record, sarcopenia with a Simple Questionnaire to Rapidly Diagnose Sarcopenia (SARC) and depression with The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Almost one-third (32.1%) were at risk of malnutrition and 2.6% suffered from malnutrition. Impaired nutritional status was associated with depressive symptoms (β = −0.277, p = 0.015) and risk of sarcopenia (SARC points) (β = −0.401, p = 0.001). Mean protein intake was 0.9 ± 0.3 g/adjusted body weight/day. Intakes of protein and multiple vitamins and minerals were lower than recommended. In conclusion, a third of older people living at home were at risk of malnutrition or malnourished. Multiple physical, psychological and social factors in older adults were associated with nutritional status and protein intake.

Keywords:

• Elderly
• malnutrition
• protein intake

TRIAL ID:

• ACTRN12618000955213

Disclosure statement

Mrs. Rautakallio-Järvinen, Dr. Laaksonen and Mrs. Fogelholm report payments from Oy Karl Fazer Ab or Compass Group FS Finland during the preparation of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The Power Meals study was funded by Oy Karl Fazer Ab and Compass Group FS Finland Oy. The funder did not have any role in the study analysis.