A review of nutrition screening tools used to assess the malnutrition-sarcopenia syndrome (MSS) in the older adult

Abstract

Background Malnutrition and sarcopenia are common in older adults. A new clinical syndrome has been suggested - the Malnutrition Sarcopenia Syndrome (MSS) - that may provide improved management, by highlighting two older adult conditions that can interact in a cumulative way to affect functional independence and health outcomes. This paper evaluates the published literature reporting data on both nutrition and sarcopenia evaluation simultaneously in the population studied, and creates a diagnostic algorithm. Methods An inclusive, systematic literature search was done for articles including a simultaneous standardised evaluation of sarcopenia and nutritional status, from 1990-date. Sarcopenic status needed to be evaluated using accepted guidelines published by international guideline committees which include a functional muscle evaluation and a quantitative evaluation using bioimpedence assay or dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Nutritional status needed to evaluated with a standardised, validated nutritional screening tool that was not disease specific. Results 11 studies met these criteria. They differed in their methodology for screening both sarcopenia and nutritional issues. They differed as to the population studied (community versus institutionalised versus hospitalised). Conclusions No one methodology was consistent for evaluation of sarcopenia or malnutrition. The concept of the Malnutrition Sarcopenia Syndrome intuitively makes sense to clinicians. This opinion paper suggests a possible clinical approach. The management and interventions for both conditions are likely to have considerable overlap. There needs to be some consensus on how to evaluate it, in order to be able to accurately interpret the impact of interventions that may be undertaken for one or both conditions simultaneously.