Comparison of malnutrition assessment methods for geriatric admissions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparison of malnutrition assessment methods for acute geriatric unit admissions and their correlation with duration of hospital stay, need for rehabilitation and mortality
IRAS ID
265598
Contact name
Alexander Davidson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Abedeen and NHS Grampian
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study aims to assess the main nutrition screening tools that are designed to assess changes in a patient's nutritional status over time. Bioelectrical Impedance Assessment (BIA) is an alternative method of performing this, and takes into consideration lean body mass and fluid distribution. When this method is used with a validated equation that corrects for an elderly population, the results are in line with DEXA scanning, the current 'gold standard' method of assessing lean body mass.
The importance of this relates to the correlation between a loss of lean body mass during admission, and increased length of hospital stay and is predictive of hospital readmission. If BIA can be shown to accurately reproduce this correlation, then it can be adopted as an early detection mechanism to improve patient outcomes.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0235
Date of REC Opinion
25 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion