Changes in nutritional status in home care patients discharged from a convalescent rehabilitation ward and factors associated with malnutrition : a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Aim: To elucidate changes in nutritional status over time following admission to a convalescent rehabilitation ward and factors associated with malnutrition after discharge.

Subjects and Methods: Patients who were discharged from the convalescent rehabilitation ward from April to August 2017 were investigated. A questionnaire including the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) was distributed to the patients or family caregivers after discharge to compare nutritional status at admission, at discharge, and after discharge. Also, factors associated with malnutrition after discharge were analyzed.

Results: The subjects were 80 patients (mean age, 69.7 years). The prevalence of malnutrition gradually decreased over time : 56.3% at admission, 10.0% at discharge, and 3.8% after discharge. The post-discharge malnutrition group had lower scores for the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Food Intake LEVEL Scale at discharge than the well-nourished group. FIM at discharge, MNA-SF at discharge, post-discharge rehospitalization were explanatory factors for malnutrition after discharge (odds ratios 0.946, 0.755, and 9.921, respectively).

Conclusion: The nutritional status of patients admitted to the convalescent rehabilitation ward improved over time. Activities of daily living and nutritional status at discharge, and post-discharge rehospitalization were associated with malnutrition after discharge.