Applications of the new ESPEN definition of malnutrition and SARC-F in Chinese nursing home residents

We aimed to compare the predictive capacity of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and malnutrition combined with sarcopenia for mortality in nursing home residents. We conducted a prospective study in four nursing homes in China. Nutrition status and sarcopenia were measured according to the new European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) definition and SARC-F, respectively. The study population was divided into four groups: malnutrition with sarcopenia (MN+/SA+), malnutrition without sarcopenia (MN+/SA−), sarcopenia without malnutrition (MN−/SA+), and normal nutrition without sarcopenia (MN−/SA−). The participants were followed up for 12 months. We included 329 participants. Thirty-eight participants (11.6%) had MN+/SA+, 38 participants (11.6%) had MN+/SA−, and 93 participants (28.3%) had MN−/SA+. The 1-year mortality was 18.3%, 21.5%, 18.4%, and 47.4% in the MN−/SA−, MN−/SA+, MN+/SA−, and MN+/SA+ groups, respectively. Compared to participants with MN−/SA−, participants with MN+/SA+ were at a significantly higher risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 3.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.71–5.95); however, MN−/SA+ (adjusted HR: 1.24, 95% CI 0.69–2.22) and MN+/SA− (adjusted HR: 0.95, 95% CI 0.41–2.19) were not predictors of mortality. In conclusion, the coexistence of malnutrition and sarcopenia is a significant predictor of mortality in a study population of Chinese nursing home residents.