2016 Volume 31 Issue 6 Pages 1256-1262
Objectives: To explore potential factors associated with improving Activities of daily living (ADLs) among malnourished patients during hospitalization.
Subjects and Methods: Subjects were patients working with a Nutrition support team (NST), and for whom albumin values <3.0 g/dL at hospitalization. We focused on Functional Independence Measure (FIM) Motor items as an index of ADLs and examined factors that may help improve patient ADLs.
Results: The present study recruited 557 subjects (mean age, 80.6±11.3 years). The subject mean FIM Motor score was 15.0 points (IQR: 13.0-34.0) at the time of NST initiation, but had increased significantly to 17.0 points (IQR: 13.0-41.0; p=0.000) by NST completion. Although, subjects whom requiring 107 moderate and 409 severe amount of care, while 516 (92.6%) subjects did not showed dramatically improvement at the time of NST completion. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that significant independent variables for ΔFIM Motor scores included FIM Cognitive items (β: 0.113, p=0.021), age (β: -0.140, p=0.003), patients with gastrointestinal diseases (β: 0.166, p=0.000), and patients with orthopedic diseases (β: 0.127, p=0.007), and patients with kidney diseases (β: 0.148, p=0.001) in subjects whom requiring severe amount of care at baseline.
Conclusions: In order to help malnourished patients improve ADLs, grasping patient cognitive function and primary disease is important, but comprehensive support is also highly necessary.
