Mini Nutrition Assessment-Short Form score is associated with sarcopenia even among nourished people – A result of a feasibility study of a registry

Objectives

This study aims to identify a new barrier to the use of the Mini-Nutrition Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF), which is a malnutrition assessment tool for the risk assessment of sarcopenia in a nourished population.

Methods

The MNA-SF was completed, and individuals with a score of > 11 were considered nourished in this cross-sectional feasibility study of a registry. Sarcopenia was assessed in 766 healthy, nourished adults (33.4% men, 64.9 ± 7.1 years) based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2).

Results

The MNA-SF scores for non-sarcopenia, pre-, confirmed, and severe sarcopenia were 13.59 ± 0.69, 13.73 ± 0.60, 12.64 ± 0.74, and 12.5 ± 0.71, respectively. The higher MNA-SF score association with pre-sarcopenia [odds ratio (OR): 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.86, P = 0.02], confirmed sarcopenia (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.13–0.49, P < 0.001), and severe sarcopenia (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.09–0.46, P < 0.001) was as significant as in the MNA-SF categories. Individuals with a score = 13 (compared with 14), had a higher risk of confirmed sarcopenia (OR = 10.07, 95% CI: 1.92–52.71, P = 006) and severe sarcopenia (OR = 12.09, 95% CI: 1.24–117.50, P = 0.032). Individuals with a score of 12 had a higher risk of confirmed sarcopenia (OR = 30.94, 95% CI: 4.25–103.02, P < 0.001) and severe sarcopenia (OR = 35.90, 95% CI: 4.25–303.07, P = 0.001) compared with subjects with a score of 14. The models also showed that MNA-SF < 13 could predict sarcopenia.

Conclusion

There was a significant association between MNA-SF and confirmed and severe sarcopenia in nourished people. Sarcopenia assessment in people with MNA-SF < 13 can be beneficial. Developing a tool to identify the risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia at the same time based on MNA-SF can be considered.