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Cited by 27Nutrition and Health in AgingClinical Nutrition and GastroenterologyDysphagia Assessment and Management

Prevalence of Risk Factors for the Refeeding Syndrome in Older Hospitalized Patients

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Pourhassan, Maryam, Cuvelier, I., Gehrke, I., Marburger, C., Modreker, M.K., Volkert, D., Willschrei, H.P., Wirth, R.·2018·The Journal of nutrition, health and aging
DOI 10.1007/s12603-017-0917-0PMC PMC12275535
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of refeeding syndrome (RFS) in older patients is not well-known. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of known risk factors for RFS in older individuals during hospitalization at geriatric hospital departments. DESIGN AND SETTING: 342 consecutive older participants (222 females) who admitted at acute geriatric hospital wards were included in a cross-sectional study. We applied the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) criteria for determining patients at risk of RFS. In addition, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA®-SF) was used to identify patients at risk of malnutrition. Weight and height were assessed. The degree of weight loss was obtained by interview. Serum phosphate, magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, creatinine and urea were analyzed according to standard procedures. RESULTS: Of 342 older participants included in the study (mean age 83.1 ± 6.8, BMI range of 14.7-43.6 kg/m2), 239 (69.9%) were considered to be at risk of RFS, in which 43.5% and 11.7% were at risk of malnutrition and malnourished, respectively, according to MNA-SF. Patients in the risk group had significantly higher weight loss, lower phosphate and magnesium levels. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, low levels of phosphate and magnesium followed by weight loss were the major risk factors for fulfilling the NICE criteria. CONCLUSION: The incidence of risk factors for RFS was relatively high in older individuals acutely admitted in geriatric hospital units, suggesting that, RFS maybe more frequent among older persons than we are aware of. Patients with low serum levels of phosphate and magnesium and higher weight loss are at increased risk of RFS. The clinical characteristics of the older participants at risk of RFS indicate that these patients had a relatively poor nutritional status which can help us better understand the potential scale of RFS on admission or during the hospital stay.

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Authors
Pourhassan, M., Cuvelier, I., Gehrke, I., Marburger, C., Modreker, M. K., Volkert, D., Willschrei, H. P., & Wirth, R.
Affiliations
  • Universitätsklinik Marien Hospital Herne (DE)
  • Sana Kliniken AG (DE)
  • Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
Corresponding author
Pourhassan, Maryam
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of nutrition, health and aging
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-03
Volume
22
Issue
3
Pages
321-327
ISSN
1279-7707 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1007/s12603-017-0917-0
PMC
PMC12275535
OpenAlex
W2604771936
Cited by
27
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5
FWCI
2.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The journal of nutrition health & aging (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › Dysphagia Assessment and Management
Keywords
refeeding syndrome, older adults, hospitalized older adults, risk factors, malnutrition, weight loss, serum phosphorus, serum magnesium, NICE criteria, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form, nutritional status
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Weight, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Hospital Units, Hospitalization, Humans, Magnesium, Male, Middle Aged, Nutritional Status, Patients, Phosphates, Risk Factors, Weight Loss, Geriatric Assessment, Nutrition Assessment, Body Mass Index, Prevalence, Refeeding Syndrome

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