THE EFFECT OF FLUID INTAKE ON MORTALITY AND THE LEVEL OF PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING IN OLD AGE AND SENILITY

Аннотация

Introduction: Dehydration caused by insufficient fluid intake is a common problem among older adults, however, its effect on geriatric status and mortality in older adults is an insufficiently studied topic. Objective: to study the effect of the amount of fluid consumed on geriatric status and mortality in older adults. Materials and methods: Crystal prospective cohort study of randomly assigned subjects aged 68 years and older (n=379). Fluid intake was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Scale. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed for all participants. The total follow-up period was 6 years. Results: Participants who drank more than 5 glasses per day had significantly higher levels of physical function compared with those who drank 5 or fewer glasses of fluid per day. Increasing fluid intake (from less than 3 glasses to 3–5 glasses per day and then to more than 5 glasses per day) increased SPPB scores by an average of 1.8 points [β (95% CI) = 1.807 (0.697 - 2.918)] and grip strength by 2.4 kg [β (95% CI) 2.440 (0.152 - 4.728)]. Drinking 5 glasses of fluid per day was also associated with a 71% lower risk of all-cause mortality during 6 years of follow-up [OR (95% CI) = 0.29 (0.14 - 0.63)]. This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for sex, age, anemia, high CRP, depression, cognitive decline, and history of stroke, but disappeared after adjusting for nutritional status, physical function, and loss of autonomy. Conclusion: Reduced fluid intake in older age is an independent risk factor associated with decreased overall physical functioning, muscle strength, and higher risk of all-cause mortality.