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Protein, malnutrition and wasting disorders

Association between Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index and low muscle mass in Chinese elderly people

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 73, pages 917–923 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index (GNRI) and low muscle mass (LMM) in elderly people.

Subjects/Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out in Chinese PLA General Hospital with 3240 participants who underwent a health check-up examination between February 2016 and February 2017. Linear regression and logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between GNRI and LMM.

Results

The mean age of the participants in the study was 64.6 years. The mean appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) was 8.92 ± 0.93 kg/m2 in men and 7.62 ± 0.73 kg/m2 in women. The incidences of LMM were 7.9% in men and 3.7% in women. Linear regression demonstrated that GNRIs were positively correlated with ASMIs in both men and women (β = 0.055 for men and 0.039 for women, all P < 0.001). The cut-off point of the GNRI in elderly people for LMM was 104.0 in men and 107.0 in women and were identified by Classification and Regression Trees (CART). Logistic regression showed that both men and women with decreased GNRIs had higher ratios of LMM [odds ratio (OR) = 3.904 for men and 4.486 for women, P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively].

Conclusions

Elderly people with a low GNRI had a higher incidence of LMM, which suggested that GNRI had a close relationship with LMM and that it could be a good indicator in identifying senior people who need further nutritional support and physical activity.

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Author contributions

YZ participated in the design of the study and drafted the manuscript. SF helped with the interpretation of data and the statistical analysis. XL, QZ, and JW contributed to the conception of the study design and are the guarantors of the work. XZ contributed to the data collection process. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Yujie Zhang, Shihui Fu

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China

    Yujie Zhang, Shihui Fu & Xiaoying Li

  2. Department of Rehabilitation, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China

    Jingxin Wang

  3. Department of Rehabilitation, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China

    Jingxin Wang

  4. International Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China

    Xin Zhao & Qiang Zeng

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  1. Yujie Zhang
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Correspondence to Xiaoying Li.

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Zhang, Y., Fu, S., Wang, J. et al. Association between Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index and low muscle mass in Chinese elderly people. Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 917–923 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0330-8

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