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A recent study has revealed that one-third of Canadian adults aged 55 and older are at nutritional risk, potentially leading to increased hospital stays, emergency room visits, and physician consultations for infections.
The study, titled Baseline nutrition risk as measured by SCREEN-8 predicts self-reported 12-month healthcare service use of older adults 3 years later, was published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. It is co-authored by Vanessa Trinca, a research associate in Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo.
Researchers from the University of Waterloo analyzed data from over 22,000 community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older, sourced from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Participants were initially assessed and followed up with after three years to track their use of healthcare services over the preceding year.
The research team employed the SCREEN-8 tool (Seniors in the Community Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition) to evaluate participants’ nutrition risk. Their findings indicated that individuals with higher SCREEN-8 scores—signifying better nutrition—were significantly less likely to experience an overnight hospital stay, visit an emergency room, or consult a doctor for an infection three years later.
“While these results make sense intuitively, they highlight how a straightforward and inexpensive tool can easily be used to potentially make a vast difference in improving health-care outcomes and costs,” said Dr. Heather Keller, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition and Aging at the University of Waterloo.
Dr. Keller emphasized that SCREEN-8 should become a routine part of primary care practice, noting that it is simple enough to be self-administered at home.
Nutritional risk among older adults is a pressing concern, particularly among community-dwelling individuals, as it can precede malnutrition. SCREEN-8 consists of eight questions that assess weight changes, appetite, eating difficulties such as choking or swallowing issues, meal preparation habits, and intake of fruits, vegetables, and fluids.
The study sample was evenly divided between males and females, with a mean age of approximately 66 years. Most participants were living with a partner, and two-thirds held post-secondary degrees. However, researchers acknowledged a limitation in their sample, as it predominantly consisted of highly educated, white individuals, making it less representative of the broader Canadian population.
“Knowing who’s at risk nutritionally allows individuals the possibility of modifying behaviors to avert negative health outcomes,” said Dr. Keller. “Further research can help determine how healthcare practitioners can best triage and provide education, programming, and services to offset high risk.”
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individuals concerned about their nutritional health should consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized recommendations.
