A cross-sectional study of the nutritional status of community-dwelling people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Gray, William K.
Porter, Bob
Walker, Richard
Issue Date
2010
Type
Language
Keywords
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have an increased risk of under-nutrition, but we are unaware of any population based prevalence studies of under-nutrition in PD. The main objective of this study was to identify the prevalence, and nature, of under-nutrition in a representative population of people with PD. Methods: People diagnosed with idiopathic PD from within two PD prevalence study sites in North-East England were asked to participate in this study. Those who participated (n = 136) were assessed using a number of standard rating scales including Hoehn & Yahr stage and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Body mass index (BMI), mid-arm circumference (MAC), triceps skin fold thickness (TSF) and grip strength were recorded together with social and demographic information. Results: BMI < 20 identified over 15% of the study group to have under-nutrition. The Malnutritional Universal Screening Tool (MUST) scoring system identified 23.5% of participants at medium or high risk of malnutrition. Low BMI, indicating under-nutrition, was associated with greater age and disease duration, lower MAC, TSF, mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), reduced grip strength and a report of unintentional weight loss. Problems increased with increasing age and disease duration and were greater in females. Conclusions: Under-nutrition is a problem for around 15% of community dwelling people with PD. All PD patients should be screened for under-nutrition; the MUST score is a useful early screening tool.
Description
Citation
Ahmed, J., Gray, W., Porter, B. et al. (2010) A cross-sectional study of the nutritional status of community-dwelling people with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease. BMC Neurology; 10 : 124.
Publisher
BMC Neurology
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14445/104
PubMed ID
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-10-124
ISSN
1471-2377
EISSN
Collections
Neurology