The 10-item eating assessment tool is associated with nutritional status, mortality and hospital stay in elderly individuals requiring hospitalization with acute diseases.

Objective: the purpose of this investigation was to investigate the associations between nutritional status by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) test and dysphagia by EAT-10 in elderly individuals requiring nutritional oral care in an acute hospital.

Patients: this was a cross-sectional survey covering a sample of 560 elderly individuals. As anthropometric parameters, weight and body mass index (BMI) have been included. Glucose, creatinine, sodium, potassium, albumin, prealbumin and transferrin serum levels were measured. The EAT-10 and MNA tests were carried out. The days of hospital stay and mortality were recorded.

Results: the mean EAT-10 was 11.2 ± 0.89, the median was 10 and the interquartile range, 6-15. A total of 465 (83.1%) elderly patients had EAT-10 scores between 3 and 40, indicating the presence of dysphagia. The mean MNA test was 15.2 ± 1.1, median was 15 and interquartile rage, 11-18.5. According to their MNA score, a total of 340 (60.7%) elderly patients had MNA scores under 17 (malnutrition) and 177 subjects (31.6%) had a MNA score of 17-23.5 (risk of malnutrition). The MNA score and EAT-10 score were independently associated with hospital stance Beta -0.111 (CI 95%: -0.031- -0.78) and Beta 0.122 (CI 95%: 0.038-0.43), respectively. MNA score was associated with EAT-10 score Beta -0.236 (CI 95%: -0.213-0.09). The MNA score and EAT-10 score were independently associated with mortality odds ratio 0.91 (CI 95%: 0.84-0.96) and 1.040 (CI 95%: 1.008-1.074), respectively.

Conclusion: dysphagia assessed by the EAT-10 is associated with nutritional status in elderly subjects requiring acute hospitalization. Subsequently, malnutrition and dysphagia were associated with poor outcome such as hospital stay and mortality.