Assessing the nutritional status of elderly Chinese lung cancer patients using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA®) tool

PURPOSE This study assessed the nutritional status of elderly Chinese lung cancer inpatients using a revised version of the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA(®)) tool. PATIENTS AND METHODS The revised version of the MNA tool was used to assess the nutritional status of 180 elderly Chinese lung cancer inpatients prior to their scheduled surgery between June 2010 and July 2011. Patients' demographic data, anthropometric parameters, and biochemical markers were collected and analyzed. RESULTS Among the 180 inpatients who underwent the MNA, 9% were malnourished (MNA score < 19), 33% were at risk of malnutrition (MNA score 19-23), and 58% were well nourished (MNA score ≥ 24). There was significant correlation between the MNA scores of patients who were malnourished, at risk of malnutrition, and well nourished (P < 0.001), as well as between total MNA score and most MNA questions. The three patient groups with different nutritional statuses differed significantly in their responses to anthropometrics and global, diet, and subjective assessments. CONCLUSION Incidence rates of malnutrition prior to surgery are high among elderly Chinese lung cancer inpatients. The revised MNA is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to assess and prevent malnutrition among these inpatients.