• Luxi Ji, Hongdao Meng, and Birong Dong.
• Department of Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8338, USA. jiluxi@gmail.com
• Clin Nutr. 2012 Dec 1; 31 (6): 922-6.

Background & AimsOlder adults are at increased risk for malnutrition. The aim was to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for poor nutritional status in oldest-old Chinese.MethodsCommunity-living Chinese aged 90 and over were included in the study. Nutritional status was evaluated by using the Mini Nutritional Assessment short-form (MNA-SF). Demographic and socioeconomic status, health status, cognitive, behavioral, and lifestyle factors were collected via structured questionnaires during face-to-face interviews.Results632 individuals (424 F, 208 M, 94 ± 3 y) were included. We found that 36 (5.7%) participants were classified as being malnourished (MNA-SF < 7), 445 (70.4%) were classified as being at risk for malnutrition (8 ≤ MNA-SF ≤ 11), and 151 (23.9%) were considered as well-nourished (MNA-SF ≥ 12). Ordinal logistic regression showed that significant risk factors for poor nutritional status included older age, poor cognitive function, gastrointestinal (GI) system disease, poor self-rated health, and lower serum albumin level.ConclusionThe findings suggest that the majority of the Chinese oldest-old were at risk for malnutrition. Nutritional assessment should be incorporated into regular geriatric screening among community-living oldest-old in China. Interventions targeting those at risk for malnutrition should be developed to improve health outcomes among this vulnerable population.Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

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