Low-intake dehydration and nutrition impact symptoms in older medical patients - A retrospective study

Malnutrition and low-intake dehydration both increase complications and mortality in hospitalized older medical patients. Nutrition Impact Symptoms (NIS) are barriers for obtaining an adequate nutritional intake and possibly adequate fluid. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prevalence of low-intake dehydration and specific NIS, and the relation between low-intake dehydration and specific NIS.

A retrospective cohort study among older patients (≥65 years) from the Medical Department at Herlev-Gentofte Hospital and referred to a clinical dietitian. Data about sex, age, BMI, prevalence of nutritional risk (NRS-2002), low-intake dehydration (calculated osmolarity >295 mmol/L), and NIS (the EATEN-questionnaire, comprising 16 NIS-questions and whether these were respectively present and limiting nutritional intake) were collected from the hospital records.

We included 99 patients (61% women), mean age 81 years (±7.9), median BMI 21.8 kg/m² (IQR:19.5-25.4). Nutritional risk was found in 74%, and low-intake dehydration in 40% of the included patients. The three most frequent NIS-present were: Early satiety (84%), no appetite (82%), and tiredness (72%). The three most frequent NIS-limiting intake were: No appetite (73%), early satiety (69%), and dry mouth (42%). We found low-intake dehydration to be related to a lower prevalence of the following NIS-present; dry mouth (58% vs.80%, p = 0.0210), and breathlessness (24% vs.49%, p = 0.0179). Among the NIS-limiting intake a lower prevalence of other pains was related to low-intake dehydration (7% vs.29%, p = 0.0233).

NIS and low-intake dehydration are highly prevalent in older patients. There is limited association between low-intake dehydration and specific NIS.