The influence of obesity on the development of physical function in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients (AdiFuS) - A longitudinal analysis

It is well known that older persons have a high risk for malnutrition and often suffer from nutrition related problems especially when they are inpatients. In addition to the high prevalence of malnutrition, many seniors are nowadays overweight or obese even in the oldest age. In addition, these effects are reinforced by age-related changes in body composition which are accompanied by a high loss of muscle mass and a dramatic increase of fat mass. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate how and in which extent the nutritional status affects physical function in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.

Nutritional and physical examination is carried out at admission and at discharge of the geriatric rehabilitation with an established geriatric assessment. Furthermore, body composition is analyzed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and nutritional blood markers are determined. Follow up investigation is conducted six months after discharge. All participants were contacted by telephone call and complete a questionnaire on nutritional and functional status in an interview form. The results obtained are intended to clarify weather nutritional risk patterns exist and how far they influence physical function in a negative way.

The AdiFuS project is funded between 07/2015 and 12/2016 by a faculty intern scheme, called research pool.

Partners:

• University Clinic for Geriatrics, Klinikum Oldenburg AöR
• Geriatric Centre University Heidelberg, Agaplesion Bethanien Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
• Institute of Nutritional and Food Sciences – Nutritional Physiology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, Germany