PEU in Elderly TCU Residents

Aging Clinical Trial

Official title:

Manifestations, Causes, and Consequences of PEU in Elderly TCU Residents

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00242684
• Other study ID #: IIR 04-298
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: October 18, 2005
• Last updated: April 6, 2015
• Start date: March 2006
• Est. completion date: April 2012

Study information

• Verified date: September 2014
• Source: VA Office of Research and Development
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Background: There is tremendous controversy regarding the adequacy/effectiveness of the nutritional care provided in VA Transitional Care Units (TCUs). The interrelationship between concurrent inflammatory disease, the adequacy of a resident's nutrient consumption, the development or resolution of putative nutritional deficits, and clinical outcomes is not established. Given the known obstacles to increasing nutrient intake (e.g. cost, resident acceptance, associated morbidity) and the lack of proven effectiveness of all forms of nutrition support and nutritional supplementation to improve clinical outcomes, a better understanding of these interrelationships is needed and will be the focus of this study.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to determine how best to define nutritional risk (i.e., risk for adverse clinical outcomes due to inadequate nutrient intake) among older VA TCU residents. As part of this objective, we will seek to develop a better understanding of the interrelationship between nutrient intake, weight change, serum concentration of albumins, health status/illness severity, and mortality. The secondary objective is to develop a prediction model for identifying which TCU residents are likely to have ongoing problems with low nutrient intake. The ultimate objective is to develop a clinically useful system to identify residents who are likely to benefit from specific interventions aimed at improving nutritional risk.

Description:

Background: There is tremendous controversy regarding the adequacy/effectiveness of the nutritional care provided in VA Transitional Care Units (TCUs). The interrelationship between concurrent inflammatory disease, the adequacy of a resident's nutrient consumption, the development or resolution of putative nutritional deficits, and clinical outcomes is not established. Given the known obstacles to increasing nutrient intake (e.g. cost, resident acceptance, associated morbidity) and the lack of proven effectiveness of all forms of nutrition support and nutritional supplementation to improve clinical outcomes, a better understanding of these interrelationships is needed and will be the focus of this study.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to determine how best to define nutritional risk (i.e., risk for adverse clinical outcomes due to inadequate nutrient intake) among older VA TCU residents. As part of this objective, we will seek to develop a better understanding of the interrelationship between nutrient intake, weight change, serum concentration of albumins, health status/illness severity, and mortality. The secondary objective is to develop a prediction model for identifying which TCU residents are likely to have ongoing problems with low nutrient intake. The ultimate objective is to develop a clinically useful system to identify residents who are likely to benefit from specific interventions aimed at improving nutritional risk.

Methods: To meet these objectives, 400 older, non-terminally ill veterans admitted to a VA TCU (where average length of stay is approximately 90 days) will be prospectively studied using the same methodologic approach validated in prior VA hospital-based investigations. After completing a comprehensive admission assessment, each subject will be monitored closely throughout his/her TCU stay with serial nutrient intake and recurring metabolic, functional, neuropsychological, cognitive, nutritional, and medical assessments. Weights, anthropometrics, and blood for serum proteins, inflammatory markers (e.g., cytokines), and other select lab indices will be obtained at least monthly until discharged. Resting metabolic rate (by indirect calorimetry) will be obtained on select residents. Each subject will remain in the study for 12 months. From discharge through the end of the subject's study year, each subject will be monitored by phone to determine survival and days of institutional (e.g., hospital, NH) care. At study's end, strengths of associations will be assessed using univariable and multivariable analytic techniques including logistic and Cox Proportional-Hazards analyses.

Findings: See citations linked.

Status: Status: Funding began 9-1-2005. Subject recruitment began 3-1-2006. To date, we have recruited 446 subjects into the study. 446 subjects have been discharged from the inpatient phase of the study. The average length of stay for these subjects is 32 days.

Impact: Our study will provide a clearer understanding of what factors contribute to the apparent nutritional deficits seen in many older veterans residing in VA nursing home TCUs. The study will also lead to the development of a clinically useful system to identify TCU residents who are likely to benefit from specific interventions aimed at improving nutritional risk and thus clinical outcomes.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 446
• Est. completion date: April 2012
• Est. primary completion date: April 2012
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 64 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

> 64 years of age, admitted to the TCU

Exclusion Criteria:

If they: have a terminal disease (eg end-stage organ failure refractory to medical management receiving palliate care).

Study Design

Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aging

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center, Little Rock, AR	No. Little Rock	Arkansas

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
VA Office of Research and Development

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (5)

Dennis RA, Johnson LE, Roberson PK, Heif M, Bopp MM, Cook J, Sullivan DH. Changes in prealbumin, nutrient intake, and systemic inflammation in elderly recuperative care patients. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008 Jul;56(7):1270-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01789 — View Citation

Dennis RA, Johnson LE, Roberson PK, Heif M, Bopp MM, Garner KK, Padala KP, Padala PR, Dubbert PM, Sullivan DH. Changes in activities of daily living, nutrient intake, and systemic inflammation in elderly adults receiving recuperative care. J Am Geriatr So — View Citation

Sullivan DH, Johnson LE, Dennis RA, Roberson PK, Garner KK, Padala PR, Padala KP, Bopp MM. Nutrient intake, peripheral edema, and weight change in elderly recuperative care patients. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013 Jun;68(6):712-8. doi: 10.1093/gerona — View Citation

Sullivan DH, Johnson LE, Dennis RA, Roberson PK, Heif M, Garner KK, Bopp MM. The Interrelationships among albumin, nutrient intake, and inflammation in elderly recuperative care patients. J Nutr Health Aging. 2011 Apr;15(4):311-5. — View Citation

Sullivan DH, Roberson PK, Johnson LE, Mendiratta P, Bopp MM, Bishara O. Association between inflammation-associated cytokines, serum albumins, and mortality in the elderly. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2007 Sep;8(7):458-63. Epub 2007 Aug 13. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Percentage of Subjects With Average Daily Nutrient Intake <70% of Predicted Needs		While hospitalized on TCU, for up to 40 days	No