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| ID | Type | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRP 2025 No.: V3-2559 | Other Grant/Funding Number | ARIS and the Ministry of Health |
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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| University of Primorska | OTHER |
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The objective of of this observational study is to evaluate the nutritional status and the prevalence of nutrition-related conditions, as well as dysphagia, among patients aged 65 years and older with mental disorders. The study will also identify key associated factors and inform the development of targeted strategies for the prevention, early identification, and management of malnutrition and related conditions. Furthermore, a draft clinical pathway for nutritional care will be developed, and its feasibility and effectiveness will be assessed.
This prospective observational study will be conducted at the Geriatric Psychiatry Unit of the University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana and will focus on hospitalized patients aged 65 years and older with mental disorders. Older adults with psychiatric conditions, particularly those with dementia and depression, represent a highly vulnerable population with an increased risk of malnutrition, dysphagia, and related clinical conditions. Despite their clinical importance, these conditions remain under-recognized and insufficiently addressed, particularly in hospital settings, where nutritional status may further deteriorate during admission.
The study aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of nutritional status and nutrition-related conditions in this population, while also examining their relationship with clinical, functional, cognitive, psychological, and sociodemographic factors. In addition, the study will explore associations between nutritional conditions and laboratory biomarkers, including markers of inflammation, metabolism, and oxidative stress, to improve understanding of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
Data will be collected as part of routine clinical care using a multidisciplinary approach, including medical, nutritional, functional, psychological, and pharmacological assessments. Nutritional status and dysphagia will be evaluated using validated clinical tools and standard diagnostic criteria. Functional status will be assessed through established mobility and performance measures, while cognitive function and mood will be evaluated using standardized psychological instruments. Laboratory parameters will be obtained from routine diagnostics, with additional analyses performed on stored serum samples without increasing patient burden.
Patients will be assessed at hospital admission and followed during hospitalization, with repeated measurements performed in accordance with standard clinical practice. No additional invasive procedures will be performed solely for research purposes, and all participants will receive standard care according to current clinical guidelines. The study will therefore not interfere with treatment or impose additional risk to participants.
The findings of this study are expected to provide the first comprehensive national data on the prevalence of malnutrition and related conditions in hospitalized older adults with mental disorders in Slovenia. Based on these findings, a multidisciplinary clinical pathway for nutritional care will be developed and its feasibility and effectiveness evaluated. The results will contribute to improved early detection, prevention, and management of malnutrition and dysphagia, as well as to the development of national evidence-based clinical guidelines and healthcare strategies for this vulnerable population.
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Prevalence of nutrition disorders and nutrition-related conditions | The prevalence of predefined nutrition disorders and nutrition-related conditions will be assessed in hospitalized patients aged 65 years and older with mental disorders using validated diagnostic criteria. Predefined conditions include malnutrition, cachexia, sarcopenia, frailty, overweight, obesity (including sarcopenic obesity and central obesity), and micronutrient abnormalities. | Baseline. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) | Nutritional status will be assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA®; score range 0-30). Higher MNA scores indicate better nutritional status. | Baseline, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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The study population will consist of patients aged 65 years and older who are admitted to inpatient wards of the unit, have at least one psychiatric diagnosis, and have an expected hospitalization of at least 48 hours. Only patients who provide written informed consent, or whose legal representatives provide consent, will be included.
| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vesna Simič | Contact | +38615872403 | vesna.simic@psih-klinika.si | |
| Nina Mohorko | Contact |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Polona Rus Prelog | University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana | Principal Investigator |
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| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16210706 | Background | Bouillanne O, Morineau G, Dupont C, Coulombel I, Vincent JP, Nicolis I, Benazeth S, Cynober L, Aussel C. Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index: a new index for evaluating at-risk elderly medical patients. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Oct;82(4):777-83. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/82.4.777. | |
| 37918922 | Background | Ruan Z, Li D, Huang D, Liang M, Xu Y, Qiu Z, Chen X. Relationship between an ageing measure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung function: a cross-sectional study of NHANES, 2007-2010. BMJ Open. 2023 Nov 2;13(11):e076746. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076746. |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D044342 | Malnutrition |
| D055948 | Sarcopenia |
| D009765 | Obesity |
| D000073496 | Frailty |
| D003680 | Deglutition Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009748 | Nutrition Disorders |
| D009750 | Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases |
| D009133 | Muscular Atrophy |
| D020879 | Neuromuscular Manifestations |
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blood
Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI, kg/m²) will be assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and calculated as appendicular skeletal muscle mass in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Higher ASMI values indicate greater appendicular skeletal muscle mass relative to height. |
| Baseline, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) score | Dysphagia will be assessed using the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS). The total score ranges from 0 to 20 points, with higher scores indicating better swallowing function. Established score ranges will be used to describe dysphagia severity. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Phase angle | Phase angle, expressed in degrees, will be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Higher phase angle values generally indicate greater cell membrane integrity and body cell mass. | Baseline, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Barthel Index score | Activities of daily living will be assessed using the Barthel Index. The total Barthel Index score (0-100 points) will be recorded. Higher scores indicate greater independence in activities of daily living. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Handgrip strength | Handgrip strength will be assessed using a calibrated hand dynamometer. One maximal grip strength measurement will be obtained from the dominant hand and recorded in kilograms (kg). Higher values indicate greater handgrip strength. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Cognitive function | Cognitive function will be assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The total score ranges from 0 to 30 points, with higher scores indicating better cognitive function. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score | Depressive symptoms will be assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). The total score ranges from 0 to 15 points, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Hospital length of stay | Hospital length of stay will be calculated as the number of calendar days from hospital admission to hospital discharge, based on the hospital medical record. | From admission to discharge, an average of 3 weeks. |
| Number of participants experiencing at least one in-hospital adverse event | The number of participants experiencing at least one predefined adverse event during hospitalization will be recorded. Predefined adverse events include falls, fractures, delirium, aspiration, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, gastrointestinal infection, sepsis, gastrointestinal bleeding, pressure ulcer, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, arrhythmia, stroke, myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary arrest, or death. Each participant will be counted once, irrespective of the number of adverse events experienced. | During hospitalization, up to Day 21. |
| De Morton Mobility Index score | Mobility will be assessed using the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI). The DEMMI total score (0-100 points) will be recorded. Higher scores indicate better mobility. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| 4-meter gait speed | Gait speed will be assessed over a 4-meter walking distance. Walking speed will be calculated as distance in meters divided by walking time in seconds and expressed in meters per second. Higher values indicate faster gait speed. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test | Lower extremity muscle function will be assessed using the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5STS). The time (seconds) required to complete five consecutive sit-to-stand repetitions will be recorded. Shorter completion time indicates better lower extremity strength. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) | Functional mobility will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The time (seconds) required to stand up from a chair, walk around a marker, return, and sit down will be recorded. Shorter completion time indicates better function. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) | Frailty will be assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), ranging from 1 to 9 points. Higher scores indicate greater frailty. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI) score | Comorbidity burden will be assessed using the Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index. The total ACCI score will be recorded. | Baseline. |
| Number of regularly prescribed medications | The number of regularly prescribed systemic medications documented in the participant's medication list at baseline will be recorded. Medications prescribed only as needed will not be included. | Baseline. |
| Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) | GNRI will be calculated from serum albumin concentration and the ratio of actual to ideal body weight using the prespecified GNRI equation (Bouillanne et al, 2005). The GNRI is a unitless score, with higher scores indicating lower nutrition-related risk. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration | Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration will be measured in serum obtained from venous blood using a validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and expressed in ng/ml. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration | Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration will be measured in serum obtained from venous blood using a validated laboratory assay and expressed in pg/ml. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) concentration | Serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) concentration (pg/ml) will be measured in serum obtained from venous blood using a validated laboratory assay. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Total antioxidant capacity | Total antioxidant capacity, assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, will be expressed as percentage inhibition of the DPPH radical. Higher values indicate greater antioxidant capacity. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) | Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentration (pg/ml) will be measured in serum obtained from venous blood using a validated laboratory assay. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration | Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration (mg/l) will be measured in serum obtained from venous blood using routine laboratory methods. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Phenotypic Age (PhenoAge) | PhenoAge, expressed in years, will be calculated using the validated equation described by Ruan et al. (2023), based on chronological age, serum albumin, creatinine, glucose, lymphocyte percentage, mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width, alkaline phosphatase, and white blood cell count. Lower values indicate lower biological age. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Skeletal muscle mass percentage | Skeletal muscle mass percentage will be assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and expressed as the percentage of total body mass classified as skeletal muscle mass. | Baseline, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Fat mass percentage | Fat mass percentage will be assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and expressed as the percentage of total body mass classified as fat mass. Higher values indicate a greater proportion of body fat. | Baseline, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Calf circumference | Calf circumference will be measured in centimeters at the prespecified anatomical site using a non-stretch measuring tape and standardized anthropometric procedures. | Baseline and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| Body mass index | Body mass index (BMI) will be calculated as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared and expressed in kg/m². | Baseline, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21 (or hospital discharge if earlier). |
| D009461 | Neurologic Manifestations |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D001284 | Atrophy |
| D020763 | Pathological Conditions, Anatomical |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D050177 | Overweight |
| D044343 | Overnutrition |
| D001835 | Body Weight |
| D010335 | Pathologic Processes |
| D004935 | Esophageal Diseases |
| D005767 | Gastrointestinal Diseases |
| D004066 | Digestive System Diseases |
| D010608 | Pharyngeal Diseases |
| D010038 | Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases |