Rheological Properties and Stability of Thickeners for Clinical Use.

The adaptation of liquids for patients with dysphagia requires precision and individualization in the viscosities used. We describe the variations of viscosity in water at different concentrations and evolution over time of the three compositions of commercial thickeners that are on the market (starch, starch with gums, and gum). By increasing the concentration in water, the viscosity of gum-based thickeners increases linearly, but it did not reach pudding texture, whereas the viscosity of the starch-based thickeners (alone or mixed with gums) rapidly reaches very thick textures.

Institutionalized elderly are able to detect small viscosity variations in thickened water with gum-based thickeners: should texture classifications be reviewed?

Background: The prevalence of dysphagia is very high in institutionalized elderly. Knowledge of the rheological and sensory characteristics of the various thickeners in elderly is limited, although it has been seen that there are differences between the rheological behaviors of gum-based thickeners with different composition. Moreover, we have not found sensory studies of viscosity in institutionalized elderly.

Masseter Muscle Thickness Measured by Ultrasound as a Possible Link with Sarcopenia, Malnutrition and Dependence in Nursing Homes.

Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. It is frequently associated with malnutrition and dependence in nursing homes. Masticatory muscle strength could be the link between sarcopenia, malnutrition and dependence.

Muscle Thickness and Echogenicity Measured by Ultrasound Could Detect Local Sarcopenia and Malnutrition in Older Patients Hospitalized for Hip Fracture.

Background: The aim of this work was to assess whether the muscle thickness and echogenicity were associated with dysphagia, malnutrition, sarcopenia, and functional capacity in acute hospital admission for a hip fracture.

Methods: Observational study that assessed nutritional status by Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition, risk of dysphagia and sarcopenia by European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People and Barthel functional index. We measured muscle thickness and echogenicity of masseter, bicipital, and quadriceps rectus femoris (RF) and vastus intermedius (VI) by ultrasound.

Prevalence of Malnutrition and 1-Year All-Cause Mortality in Institutionalized Elderly Patients Comparing Different Combinations of the GLIM Criteria.

Background: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) provided a new approach for the diagnosis of malnutrition based on a number of phenotypic and etiologic criteria. However, different diagnostic criteria could potentially lead to heterogeneity in the diagnosis. We identified different subsets of criteria to define malnutrition in a cohort of elder nursing-home residents and investigated their clinical utility in terms of 1-year survival.

GLIM Criteria at Hospital Admission Predict 8-Year All-Cause Mortality in Elderly Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Results From VIDA Study.

Background: Diabetes and older age are associated with an increased risk of malnutrition and mortality. Recently, the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) provided a 2-step approach for the malnutrition diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to determine whether GLIM nutrition status at admission was associated with long-term survival in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).