Comparison of Two Validation Nutrition Tools in Hospitalized Elderly: Full Mini Nutritional Assessment and Short‑form Mini Nutritional Assessment

Abstract

Background: The aim was to determine validity, reliability, and cutoff of full‑mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and MNA‑short form (SF) also which one was better for the screening of malnutrition in the Iranian hospitalized elderly.

Methods: In this cross‑sectional validation study, 96 hospitalized elderly ≥60 years selected from two hospitals in Tehran. Anthropometric measures (body
mass index [BMI], mid‑arm circumference [MAC], calf circumference [CC], abdomen, and waist skinfold thickness) and laboratory tests (albumin and hemoglobin levels, and red blood cell count were performed. Nutrition tools (full‑MNA and MNA‑SF), cognition tool (mini‑mental state examination, depression scale (Geriatric Depression Scale15 and activities of daily living (ADL) index (Modified Barthel‑ADL) were administered.

Results: The full‑MNA scores were significantly correlated to measures of MAC, BMI, waist, and CC. The MNS‑SF scores were significantly related to measures
of MAC, waist, and CC. Serum albumin showed a poor correlation with both tools. At cutoff 24 in full‑MNA had a sensitivity 75% and specificity 77.8% and the MNA‑SF considered 62.5% sensitivity and 65.3% specificity at cutoff 10.50 to detect well‑nourished from malnourished subjects. The internal consistencies of both tools were >90%. In exploratory factor analysis, six components found for full‑MNA and two components for MNA‑SF. Known group validity of full‑MNA was reflected significant differences between geriatric patients with expected higher full‑MNA scores and patients with expected lower scores (BMI ≥24 vs. BMI <24 or bed ulcer or assisted food intake).

Conclusions: It seems the Persian version of full‑MNA is more appropriate in comparison to MNA‑SF for screening malnutrition in the Iranian hospitalized elderly patients.

Keywords: Aged, nutrition assessment, psychometrics