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Comparative Study
. 2019 May 4;16(9):1562.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16091562.

Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition in A Sample of Dutch Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results from Two Online Screening Tools

Jos W Borkent  1   2 , Elke Naumann  3   4 , Emmelyne Vasse  5   6 , Ellen van der Heijden  7 , Marian A E de van der Schueren  8   9   10
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition in A Sample of Dutch Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results from Two Online Screening Tools

Jos W Borkent et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

To stimulate undernutrition screening among Dutch community-dwelling adults, a website was developed with general information on healthy eating for healthy aging and self-tests. Based on cross-sectional data obtained from the self-tests, we studied nutritional risk factors (early determinants) as well as risk of undernutrition (late symptoms). SCREEN II (n = 2470) was used to asses nutritional risk factors. This tool consists of 16 items regarding nutritional intake, perception of body weight, appetite, oral health and meal preparation. An adjusted SNAQ65+ (n = 687) was used to assess risk of undernutrition. This four-item tool contains questions on weight loss, appetite, walking stairs and body mass index. Differences between age-groups (65-74, 75-84, ≥85) were tested by logistic regression. Overall prevalence of nutritional risk factors was 84.1%, and increased risk of undernutrition was 56.8%. Participants aged ≥85 scored worst on almost all items of the SCREEN II and the SNAQ65+. In conclusion: A large proportion of older adults reported early determinants for increased nutrition risk, while a smaller, yet remarkable proportion scored positive on undernutrition risk. Internet screening may be a useful, contemporary, and easy, accessible way to reach older adults who are at nutritional risk and may thus contribute to early identification and prevention of undernutrition.

Keywords: community-dwelling older adults; malnutrition; nutritional risk; risk screening; screening tools; self-screening; undernutrition.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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