[Predictive value of the screening instrument "Mini-assessment of nutritional status"]

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the predictive capacity of the Mini Nutritional Assessment method (MNA), by means of data from the Danish part of the SENECA survey (1988), and the follow-up study from 1993. Using the MNA, 171 persons between 70-75 years of age were classified according to their nutritional risk as either being "well-nourished", comprising 78.4% or "at risk of malnutrition" comprising 21.6%. A total of 115 persons participated in the follow-up study. The participation rate in the follow-up study was significantly lower in the risk group (p < 0.01). The 13 Danes judged "at risk of malnutrition" had had a significantly higher occurrence of acute diseases (p < 0.05), need of help (p < 0.05) and weight loss (p < 0.001) in the preceding years. However, no significant differences were found in hospitalization rates and physician visits between the two groups. In conclusion, the results indicate that the MNA is capable of identifying a group of 70-75 year-old Danes who are at risk of certain nutrition-related health problems.