Prevalence of malnutrition and sarcopenia in patients undergoing geriatric, pulmonary and cardiovascular rehabilitation in Switzerland: a multicenter study

Rationale: Malnutrition and sarcopenia are associated with poor prognosis in hospitalized patients. However, prevalence data of both conditions in rehabilitation settings are sparse. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition and sarcopenia in various inpatient rehabilitation settings in Switzerland.
Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter period prevalence study was conducted in five Swiss rehabilitation centers. We present preliminary data on the risk of malnutrition and probable sarcopenia in the subgroups of geriatric, pulmonary and cardiovascular rehabilitation. The Nutritional Risk Screening was used to assess the risk for malnutrition. Sarcopenia were assessed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria (EWGSOP2). Prevalence data were reported as percentage (%) with 95% Wilson confidence interval (CI). Results: The study included 294 patients (46% female, 54% male, mean age 73.6 ± 12.2 years). Risk of malnutrition was identified in 62% (95% CI ¼ 56.1 e 67.4) and probable sarcopenia in 43% (95% CI ¼ 37.5 e 49.1) of the patients. Risk of malnutrition combined with probable sarcopenia was found in 34% of patients (95% CI ¼ 28.7-39.8). Patients in geriatric rehabilitation
(n¼105) were at the highest risk of malnutrition (77%) and probable sarcopenia (68%), followed by patients in pulmonary rehabilitation (n ¼ 101) (71% for malnutrition and 35% for probable sarcopenia) while patients in cardiovascular rehabilitation (n¼88) were at the lowest risk (33% and 24%, respectively).
Conclusion: Our preliminary data demonstrated that the risk of malnutrition and probable sarcopenia is highly prevalent and most common in geriatric rehabilitation settings, followed by pulmonary and cardiovascular rehabilitation. Future study findings will include prevalence of confirmed malnutrition and sarcopenia. Disclosure of Interest: U. Lehmann Grant / Research Support from: The study was financially supported by Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG, K. Uhlmann Grant / Research Support from: The study was financially supported by Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG, M. Spielmanns Grant / Research Support from: The study was financially supported by Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG, S. Spielmanns Grant / Research Support from: The study was financially supported by Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG, R. Khatami Grant / Research Support from: The study was financially supported by Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG, L. Marti Grant / Research
Support from: The study was financially supported by Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG, R. Kressig Grant / Research Support from: The study was financially supported by Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG, C. Kiss Grant / Research Support from: The study was financially supported by Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG, C. Maguire Grant / Research Support from: The study was financially supported by Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG, T. Marcin Grant / Research Support from: The study was financially supported by Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG