Table 1

Characteristics of the Study Population by Nutritional Status.

Variable

Malnourished

Risk of malnutrition

Total

P value

No. of participants (%)

48 (18.5%)

211 (81.5%)

259

Age (Mean ± SD)

75.0+5.5

75.2+5.8

75.2+5.8

0.87

Sex (%)

Men

43.8%

43.6%

43.6%

0.99

Women

56.3%

56.4%

56.4%

Education ≤12 years (%)

89.6%

65.4%

69.9%

0.001

Living alone (%)

39.6%

36%

36.7%

0.64

BMI (Mean ± SD)

25.6+5.9

27.8+5.0

27.4+5.2

0.019

Family status (%)

Married

31.3%

49.8%

46.3%

0.06

Other

4.2%

4.3%

4.2%

Widowed

64.6%

46%

49.4%

Number of diagnosed diseases (Mean ± SD)

7.7 ± 2.8

7.35 ± 2.5

7.4 ± 2.6

0.36

Country of Origin (%)

Europe/America

52.1%

66.4%

63.7%

0.05

Africa/Asia

47.9%

30.8%

34%

Israel

0%

2.8%

2.3%

Number of medications (Mean ± SD)

6.3 ± 2.8

6.4 ± 2.6

6.4 ± 2.6

0.78

Length of stay (days) (Mean ± SD)

5.0 ± 4.5

4.9 ± 4.5

4.9 ± 4.5

0.89

No. of hospitalization last year (Mean ± SD)

2.2 ± 1.8

1.8 ± 1.6

1.9 ± 1.7

0.16

No. of visits to family doctor 3 months before hospitalization

7.1 ± 7.2

6.1 ± 9.5

6.2 ± 9.1

0.47

No. of visits to specialist doctors last year (Mean ± SD)

3.5 ± 4.5

2.5 ± 3.1

2.7 ± 3.4

0.15

No. of weekly phone calls (< 7 a week)(%)

60.4%

34%

38.9%

0.001

No. of visits (Mean ± SD)

4.6 ± 3.9

5.8 ± 3.6

5.6 ± 3.7

0.03

Functional status: Total Barthel Index (Mean ± SD)

86.8 ± 20

93.5 ± 14.

92 ± 16

0.03

Depression (GDS) (Mean ± SD)

7.1 ± 3.7

5.6 ± 3.2

5.8 ± 3.3

0.005

Cognitive function (MMSE) (Mean ± SE)*

25.1 ± 4.8

27.7 ± 3.2

27.2 ± 3.7

<0.001

Feldblum et al. Nutrition Journal 2007 6:37   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-6-37