Table 3 Description of main screening instruments´ characteristics in the diagnosis of elderly´s malnutrition referred in the different studies
From: Health management of malnourished elderly in primary health care: a scoping review
Screening Instruments | Nutritional profiles categories (baseline) | Application | Phsychometric Characterístics |
|---|---|---|---|
ANSI [27] | Not reported | Research/health professional assessment | Not reported |
BMI [19] | Body mass index [weight in kg/(height in m)2 was used to classify participants as underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥ 30 kg/m2) Based on elder-BMI classification (aged ≥ 65 years), a BMI between 22–27 kg/m2 is considered a normal range. Therefore, the following cutoff points were also been used (< 22 kg/m2 under-weight, and > 27 kg/m2 for overweight) | Research/health professional assessment | Not reported |
The tool consists of two parts: the screening and the assessment. The screening part includes BMI and questions regarding the decline of food intake, weight loss in the past three months, mobility, psychosocial stress or acute disease in the past three months, and neuropsychological problems The screening score ranges from 0 to 14 where 11–14 is considered normal nutritional status, 8–11 is a risk of malnutrition and 0–7 is malnutrition. If the screening score is ≤ 11 then the assessment part is implemented that consists of 12 items including mid-arm and calf circumferences and questions about feeding, self-assessment of nutrition and general health, taking more than three prescription drugs, independent living, and pressure sores/skin ulcers. The assessment score ranges from 0 to 16. Based on the scores of the screening and assessment parts of MNA, a malnutrition indicator score is calculated The answers can give three nutritional profile categories: 1) well-nourished (24–30 points); 2) risk of malnutrition (17–23.5 points; 3) undernourished (< 17 points) | Research/health professional assessment | It´s a reliable and easy-to-use nutritional assessment tool Has an adequate predictive validity and specificity of analysis concerning the frail elderly population Recommended by the European Society for Enteric and Parental Nutrition | |
MST [27] | Not reported | Research/health professional assessment | Not reported |
Assigns risk for malnutrition based on BMI (< 18.5 kg/m = 2; 18.5–20 = 1; > 20 = 0), unplanned weight loss in 3–6 months (< 5% = 0; 5–10% = 1; > 10% = 2), and acutely ill with no nutritional intake or likelihood of no intake for more than 5 days (= 2). A total score of 2 or more indicates high risk of malnutrition with treatment recommended. A score of 1 is interpreted as medium risk with recommended follow-up. A score of 0 indicates low risk with continual care as usual | Research/health professional assessment | MUST has face content, concurrent, and predictive validity. The tool is internally consistent and reliable, with a very good to excellent reproducibility when different observers assess the same patients (kappa values between 0.8 and 1.0) The community-dwelling population MUST predict rates of hospital admissions and General Practices visits. It also shows that appropriate nutritional intervention improves outcomes. MUST has been made user-friendly through extensive field testing by many professionals in different healthcare settings Recommended by the European Society for Enteric and Parental Nutrition, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence | |
Prealbumin Levels [22] | The prealbumin was measured in fasting serum with the UniCel® DxC 800 Synchron. Based on prealbumin levels, the nutritional status categories were at risk of malnutrition (prealbumin < 20 mg/dl) and without risk of malnutrition (prealbumin ≥ 20 mg/dL) | Research/health professional assessment | Not reported |
SNAQ 65 + [29] | The profile undernourished is considered if the mid-upper arm circumference is less than 25 cm and/or 4 kg or more self-reported unintentional weight loss within the past 6 months | Research/health professional assessment | Not reported |