system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, METHODS, METHODS, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anthropometry, Female, Food Services, Health Services for the Aged, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nutrition Assessment, Nutrition Disorders, Nutritional Status, Risk Assessment.
user
Are meals-on-wheels applicants a population at risk for poor nutritional status? Context: To identify older adults with poor nutritional status among the independent-living elderly applying for meals-on-wheels, and to compare how a self-assessment tool and more traditional criteria identify nutritional risk. Descriptive study. Meals-on-wheels applicants (n = 230 between 60 and 90 years of age (mean age = 77.4 +/- 7 years) who were free from terminal illness. Nutrition assessment data were collected in the home of each participant. Risk assessment for poor nutritional status was determined using anthropometric, dietary, and laboratory data and with a Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) self-assessment tool-the "DETERMINE Your Nutritional Health" checklist. Differences were assessed using Student's t test for unpaired data. Seventy-four percent of study participants were found to be at risk for poor nutritional status according to the study criteria, and 98% were at risk for poor nutritional status according to the NSI self-assessment tool.
assistant
The majority of the applicants for meals-on-wheels were at risk for poor nutritional status. Thus, many independent-living older adults may need additional nutrition assessment and intervention to remain independent and in good nutritional status. Final Decision: yes