Factors associated with malnutrition in nursing home residents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Abstract

Purpose: We investigated factors associated with malnutrition in nursing home residents and estimated pooled effect sizes of those associations.

Methods: We report this study according to the PRISMA checklist 2020. After registering the protocol, we conducted a systematic search using the keywords “malnutrition,” “nursing home,” and “factor” on PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Scopus and conducted a hand search of relevant sources in November 2023. We conducted the meta-analysis using R4.3.1 software.

Results: We included 46 studies and entered 35 studies into the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis results showed that (1) demographic factors included being female: pooled odds ratio (pOR) 1.38 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.29~1.47) and higher body mass index: pOR 0.74 (95% CI, 0.66~0.83); (2) health functional factors including dependence with activities of daily living: pOR 3.70 (95% CI, 2.97~4.60) and being immobile: pOR 2.50 (95% CI, 1.39~4.47); (3) eating and oral intake factors including: eating <50% of offered food portions: pOR 3.56 (95% CI, 2.05~6.19) and loss of appetite: pOR 3.60 (95% CI, 1.36~9.57); (4) disease-related factors including dementia: pOR 1.98 (95% CI, 1.59~2.46), depression: pOR 1.84 (95% CI, 1.18~2.85), diabetes: pOR 0.76 (95% CI, 0.58~0.99), and pressure ulcers: pOR 2.14 (95% CI, 1.54~2.97); and (5) medication-related factors such as taking polypharmacy pOR 1.75 (95% CI, 1.24~2.47) were found to have a significant association with malnutrition in nursing homes.

Conclusion: These results contribute to updating knowledge about factors associated with malnutrition in nursing homes. Results supported that demographic status, health function, eating and oral intake, and disease, and medication factors significantly aligned with malnutrition. Study results contribute to improving nutritional care in nursing homes and long-term-care settings.