Weight Loss and Mortality Among Frail
Elders
Weight Loss Study Background
Body weight and weight changes in the elderly, according to many weight
loss studies, are related to mortality, but the one group at particularly
high risk of nutritional inadequacies--frail elders receiving home help
services--has not been studied.
Weight Loss Study Methods
A prospective cohort of 288 frail elders (81 men; 207 women; mean age:
78.2 +/- 7.6 yrs) receiving home support services was followed for 3-5
years. Nutritional variables included baseline body mass index (BMI),
weight loss prior to baseline, and energy and protein intake. Covariates
included age, gender, smoking, and health and functional status. Cox's
multivariate survival analysis was used to identify independent predictors
of mortality.
Weight Loss Study Results
There were 102 deaths (35.4 percent) over the follow-up period. Univariate
predictors included age, sex, BMI, weight loss, and functional status.
In multivariate analysis, weight loss at baseline was a significant predictor
of mortality, RR = 1.76, as was male gender, RR = 2.71, and age at baseline,
RR = 1.40.
Weight Loss Study Conclusion
Weight loss among free-living frail elders, is a predictor of early mortality
after controlling for smoking, and functional and health status indicators.
From these observations, however, it cannot conclude that prevention of
weight loss would lead to increased survival. This needs to be explored
in an intervention study.
Source: 1999 by The Gerontological Society
of America.
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