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The short-form mini-nutritional assessment is as effective as the full-mini nutritional assessment in predicting follow-up 4-year mortality in elderly Taiwanese

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective

To compare the mortality-predictive ability of the full- and short-form (SF) Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA).

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

Population-representative sample.

Participants

2872 ≥65-year old men and women.

Measurements

The study analyzed 1999 and 2003 datasets of the Taiwan Longitudinal Survey on Aging (TLSA). Subjects were graded for nutritional status with the full-MNA and MNA-SF of a Taiwanese-specific version (T2, containing calf circumference instead of BMI) at baseline (1999) and tracked their survival status for 4 years. Mortality-predictive abilities of the full-MNA and MNA-SF were compared using Cox regression analysis and Net Reclassification Improvement (NRI).

Results

The full-MNA and MNA-SF have comparable abilities in predicting follow-up 4-year mortality risk according to the hazard ratios (all p<0.001) and Akaike information criterion (AIC). It also showed a slight improvement (not significant) if the full-MNA in a predictive model was replaced by the MNA-SF (NRI=0.09%, p=0.956).

Conclusion

The MNA-SF has at least comparable or even slightly better ability in predicting follow-up 4-year mortality risk of elderly Taiwanese. Results suggest that MNA-SF with calf circumference may possess some basic characteristics of a comprehensive and universal geriatric screening scale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, 500 Liufeng Road, Wufeng, Taichung, 41354, Taiwan

    J. Y. Wang & Alan C. Tsai

  2. Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan

    Alan C. Tsai

Authors
  1. J. Y. Wang
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  2. Alan C. Tsai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alan C. Tsai.

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Wang, J.Y., Tsai, A.C. The short-form mini-nutritional assessment is as effective as the full-mini nutritional assessment in predicting follow-up 4-year mortality in elderly Taiwanese. J Nutr Health Aging 17, 594–598 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-013-0048-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-013-0048-1

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