Nutrition and Frailty in Older Persons

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between nutrition and frailty in older community-living persons.

Detailed Description
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Nutrition is regarded as an important etiologic factor in the development of frailty in older adults. To date the relation between nutrition and frailty is only poorly described. Thus, it is the purpose of this study to investigate the association between different nutrition characteristics and frailty in older community-living persons. 206 volunteers aged 75 years or older were included in this cross-sectional study. Nutritional assessment included the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), a food-frequency questionnaire and a standardised three-day dietary record. Intake of energy and nutrients was calculated using the German nutrient database BLS II.2. Dietary patterns were described by different dietary scores. Frailty was defined according to Fried et al. based on the following criteria: weight loss, exhaustion, grip strength, walking speed and physical activity. In addition several standardised tests were performed to characterise physical performance (Timed Up & Go, repeated chair stands, balance tests). The association between nutritional aspects and physical performance is evaluated in an explorative manner.

Official Title
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Relation Between Nutrition and Frailty in Community-dwelling Older Persons

Conditions
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Frailty

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age of 75 years and older living independently at home Exclusion Criteria: acute illness cognitive impairment (Mini Mental State Examination ≥ 24 out of 30 points)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No treatment<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Frailty (according to Fried et al.) | Frailty is defined as the presence of at least 3 of the following criteria: self-reported weight loss of more than 4.5 kg in the last year exhaustion (self-reported feeling that everything was an effort or one could not get going > 2 times a week) low grip strength (men ≤ 29-32 kg, women ≤ 17-21 kg depending on BMI), low walking speed (> 6-7 sec/ 4.57 m, depending on gender and height) low physical activity (men < 383 kcal/ week, women < 270 kcal/ week) | 1 day | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Impaired physical performance (according to Guralnik et al.) | Impaired physical performance is definded as less than 9 points in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Three physical performance tests (balance, walking speed and chair-rise) are performed in a standardised manner and rated with 0-4 points each. SPPB is the sum score of these three test resuslts with a maximum of 12 points indicating the best physical performance. | 1 day |