Association of malnutrition with all-cause mortality in the elderly population: A 6-year cohort study

Few studies have explored the association between malnutrition, defined by the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), and all-cause mortality, particularly in the Chinese population. This study aimed to investigate the association between the GNRI and all-cause mortality in the elderly population.

Participants aged ≥60 years were eligible for this study and were divided into three groups by the GNRI: An adequate nutrition group, participants with a GNRI ≥98; mild malnutrition group, participants with a GNRI ≥82 but <98; and a severe malnutrition group, participants with a GNRI <82. The results implied that there was a positive association between severe malnutrition and all-cause mortality in the total population (hazard ratio (HR): 2.591 and 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.729-3.884), male subjects (HR: 2.903 and 95% CI: 1.718-4.906), and female subjects (HR: 2.081 and 95% CI: 1.071-4.046). Similar associations between severe malnutrition and all-cause mortality were observed in both the 60-69 and 70-79 years age groups (HR: 2.863 and 2.600, 95% CI: 1.444-5.678 and 1.394-4.849, respectively). However, no significant association was observed between mild malnutrition and all-cause mortality.

Severe malnutrition could increase all-cause mortality in the 60- to 79-year-old population. However, there was no association of mild malnutrition with all-cause mortality.