Nutrigram^® as a novel BIA-derived parameter for assessing nutritional status in a cohort of post-stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation treatment

Early nutritional assessment is essential during post-stroke rehabilitation, which may require hospitalization lasting several months. Nutrigram^®, a novel BIA-derived index, provides a rapid, objective, and non-invasive measure of nutritional status, but its role in post-stroke populations remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the association between Nutrigram^®, other established nutritional risk assessment tools, and malnutrition in subacute post-stroke patients.

A total of 87 subacute post-stroke patients were evaluated at admission (T0). Demographic, clinical, and nutritional data were collected, and malnutrition was diagnosed using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. In the first GLIM step, nutritional risk screening was performed using both the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF^®) and the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI). Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), which allowed for the recording of the Nutrigram^®.

Nutrigram^® was significantly associated with both the MNA-SF^® and GNRI scores. Patients diagnosed as malnourished showed significantly lower Nutrigram^® values compared with non-malnourished patients, both after MNA-SF^® screening (582.7 ± 156.7 vs. 780.5 ± 208.9, p < 0.001) and GNRI screening (566.9 ± 162.3 vs. 749.0 ± 207.5, p < 0.001). Finally, Nutrigram^® was independently associated with malnutrition diagnosis, with higher values indicating lower odds of malnutrition.

Nutrigram® appears to be a promising objective index of nutritional status in post-stroke patients, showing consistent associations with established screening tools and malnutrition diagnosis.