Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (Jul 2019)

Assessment of nutritional status in older diabetic outpatients and related factors in Hanoi, Vietnam

  • Nguyen TTH,
  • Vu HTT,
  • Nguyen TN,
  • Dao HT,
  • Nguyen TX,
  • Nguyen HTT,
  • Dang AK,
  • Nguyen AT,
  • Pham T,
  • Vu GT,
  • Tran BX,
  • Latkin CA,
  • Ho CSH,
  • Ho RC

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 601 – 606

Abstract

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Thu Thi Hoai Nguyen,1–3 Huyen Thi Thanh Vu,1,3 Tam Ngoc Nguyen,1,3 Huyen Thi Dao,3 Thanh Xuan Nguyen,1,3 Huong Thu Thi Nguyen,1,3 Anh Kim Dang,4 Anh Trung Nguyen,1,3 Thang Pham,1,3 Giang Thu Vu,5 Bach Xuan Tran,6,7 Carl A Latkin,7 Cyrus SH Ho,8 Roger C Ho9,101National Geriatric Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Dinh Tien Hoang Institute of Medicine, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam; 5Center of Excellence in Evidence-based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam; 6Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 7Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; 8Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; 9Center of Excellence in Behavioral Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 10Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporePurpose: Nutritional status is an important element for the wellness among older diabetic outpatients. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of the older diabetic outpatient by using the Mini-Nutrition Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) tool, and describe the relationship among related factors in older diabetic outpatients in the National Geriatric Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2015 in the National Geriatric Hospital. A total of 158 diabetic patients aged ≥60 years at the Outpatient Department were included in this study. Patients were interviewed face-to-face to evaluate their nutritional status by using the MNA-SF. Socio-demographic, diabetic treatment information, frailty, exhaustion, cognitive function, hand grip strength and 4 m walk test were collected. Multivariate regression was used to determine factors associated with nutritional status.Results: The mean age was 69.52 (SD=6.758) with 31% patients malnourished and at risk of malnutrition. A significant association was found between the nutritional status and exhaustion, cognitive impairment, and frailty. In multiple logistic regression, the study found that risk of malnutrition was associated with frailty (OR=8.45; 95%CI=1.91–37.39) and cognitive impairment (OR=2.21; 95%CI=1.01–4.84).Conclusion: The results suggest that frailty was significantly associated with risk of malnutrition in older diabetic outpatients. Thus, early screening by nutritional assessment, and other interventions might improve the nutritional status of older outpatients with diabetes to prevent this complication and its effects.Keywords: elderly, nutritional status, outpatients, Vietnam

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