Association between nutritional indicators and clinical conditions in people aged 60 and over

Background Metabolic alterations identified through routine laboratory determinations in geriatric clinics can act as predictors of syndromes and quality of life in people. In this study, the serum status of proteins, vitamin D, B9 and B12, leukocyte count, ferritin and CRP were verified, being related to clinical conditions and nutritional status in people. Methods Hospitalized adults over 60 years of age were evaluated. Routine laboratory determinations were analyzed and their associations with sarcopenia, frailty, depression, cognitive decline, functional capacity (BADL and IADL), and malnutrition (MNA-SF for screening and calf circumference to assess muscle mass and GLIM for diagnosis) were verified. Results A total of 429 participants were investigated, with a mean age of 71.32 ± 7.84; of these, 53.6% were women. Worse outcomes in clinical conditions and nutritional indicators were observed. Hypoalbumin showed greater evidence, with statistically significant differences between the groups with and without changes in clinical conditions ( p  = 0.034 frailty and p  = < 0.001 to sarcopenia; depression; malnutrition; BADL and IADL). Leukocyte counts showed no association with any condition. Sarcopenia and BADL were the ones presenting the most statistical differences between the groups and the diagnosis of malnutrition through GLIM showed a difference for albumin ( p  = < 0.001), albumin/globulin ratio ( p  = < 0.001), PCR ( p  = < 0.001), and ferritin ( p  = 0.001). Regarding prevalence ratios, sarcopenia was significant for vitamin D (PR 0.984; 95% CI: 0.969–0.999; p  = 0.037). For BADLs, vitamin B12 indicated a protective association of 35.6% in reducing the chance of the individual becoming incapacitated for BADLs. In the diagnosis of malnutrition, significant prevalence ratios were obtained for total proteins and albumin/globulin ratio, with a reduction in the chance of malnutrition by 20.1% and 70.5% with each unitary increase in the indicators, respectively, and also for hypoalbumin (RP 1.640), leukocyte count (RP 1.005), and vitamin B9 (RP 0.998). Conclusion The nutritional indicators in general that were most associated with greater impairment of health conditions were hypoalbuminemia and albumin/globulin ratio. Worse nutritional status was associated with reduced protein status and elevated inflammatory markers. The reduction in functional capacity in BADLs was mainly influenced by the decrease in vitamin B12. Cognitive decline had no relevant impact on nutritional indicators. Trial record: Ethics Committee of the Hospital Complex – Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital and Cardiology Emergency Room of Pernambuco (CEP/HUOC/PROCAPE) – (Opinion No. 4.949.371, September 2, 2021)