Food-Based Nutrition Care Provided to Older Community-Dwelling Adults with or at Risk of Malnutrition Following Hospital Discharge—A Scoping Review

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background: Malnutrition causes complications and adverse effects in older people and is a burden on healthcare systems. Older people with, or at risk of malnutrition who receive nutrition care in hospitals do not appear to be adequately engaged with post-discharge nutrition care processes. Food-based approaches (exclusive of oral nutritional supplements) are commonly considered the ‘first’ or frontline approach by dietetic professionals in the community setting. The aim of this scoping review is therefore to identify and synthesise the literature on food-based nutrition care provided to older community-dwelling adults who have been identified as malnourished or at risk of malnutrition during a recent hospital admission. Methods: This scoping review follows the methodological framework by Arskey and O’Malley, revised by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results are reported according to the PRISMA-ScR guideline. Studies evaluating food-based nutrition care interventions provided to patients post-discharge from a hospital admission returning to a community setting were included in this review. Results: A total of 4086 records were screened, and eleven articles from seven independent studies were included. Highly heterogeneous findings may suggest improvements in weight, dietary intake, quality of life, physical function, anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, and reduction in readmissions associated with interventions including food-based nutrition care. However, sample sizes were generally small and evaluated as part of multicomponent care. Conclusions: Additional research is required to support frontline, food-based approaches for older community-dwelling adults, with or at risk of malnutrition, who are recently discharged from hospital. In the interim, multi-component nutrition interventions may be considered to improve nutritional intake.