330 risk of malnutrition and its association with frailty-associated factors in the older person

Abstract Background The aetiology of malnutrition is multifactorial, with age a facilitating factor. It is associated with poorer physical and mental health and functional ability in frail older persons. Nutritional screening is a key domain in Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). This study assessed the relationship between malnutrition risk and other drivers of frailty in the older person by CGA. Methods All patients who had a CGA completed by an Integrated Care Team for Older Persons from March 2020 to July 2021 inclusive were studied. Data was entered onto an Excel database by a trained administrator. The variables included were: age, gender, swallow screen, living alone, cognition, loneliness, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) score, falls history and risk of malnutrition using the Malnutrition-Screening Tool (MST). Odds ratio (OR), 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) was used to determine if there was an association between malnutrition risk and each variable in the total group. Results In total, 567 patients (325 female, 242 male), mean age 82yrs (SD =19), with median CFS of 6 were studied. Sixty-eight percent (n=384) reported a fall, 37.2% (n=211) had a positive swallow screen, 44% (n=251) lived alone, 35% (n=198) had positive cognitive screening, 14% (n=80) reported loneliness and 31.6% (n=179) were identified as at risk of malnutrition. A positive association was identified between risk of malnutrition and cognitive impairment (OR 1.9, 95%CI 1.2-3.1) and a reported fall (OR 2.2, 95%CI 1.4-3.5). In the population who had a fall and risk of malnutrition, the association remained in those aged ≥80yrs (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.46 – 4.5) and female (OR 3.6, 95%CI 1.7 – 7.4). Conclusion The risk of malnutrition is associated with falls risk and cognitive impairment in frail older persons. Frail older persons identified by integrated care team for older persons with falls risk & cognitive impairment will be targeted for specialist dietetic intervention.