Effect of risk of malnutrition on 30 day mortality among older patients with acute heart failure in Emergency Departments.
BACKGROUND Little is known about the prevalence and impact of risk of malnutrition on short term mortality among seniors presenting with acute heart failure (AHF) in emergency setting. The objective was to determine the impact of risk of malnutrition on 30 day mortality risk among older patients who attended in Emergency Departments (EDs) for AHF. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed a secondary analysis of the OAK 3 Registry including all consecutive patients =65 years attending in 16 Spanish EDs for AHF. Risk of malnutrition was defined by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA SF) 12 points. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the association between risk of malnutrition and 30 day mortality. RESULTS We included 749 patients (mean age: 85 (SD 6) 55.8% females) Risk of malnutrition was observed in 594 (79.3% patients. The rate of 30 day mortality was 8.8% After adjusting for MEESSI AHF risk score clinical categories (model 1) and after adding all variables showing a significantly different distribution among groups (model 2) the risk of malnutrition was an independent factor associated with 30 day mortality (adjusted OR by model 1 3.4; 95%CI 1.2 9.7; p .020 and adjusted OR by model 2 3.1; 95%CI 1.1 9.0; p .033) compared to normal nutritional status. CONCLUSIONS The risk of malnutrition assessed by the MNA SF is associated with 30 day mortality in older patients with AHF who were attended in EDs. Routine screening of risk of malnutrition may help emergency physicians in decision making and establishing a care plan.
European journal of internal medicine