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. 2021 Jul 5;13(7):2316. doi: 10.3390/nu13072316

Table 3.

Nutrition assessment domains and tools (partially adapted from NCP [81]).

Nutrition Assessment Domains
Domain * Description/Measures
Food/nutrition-related history Adequacy of food/nutrition intake (via diet history), with consideration of medications, complementary/alternative supplements, nutritional supplements, nutrition knowledge/beliefs, food access/availability, physical activity. Low/reduced food intake may indicate malnutrition.
Anthropometric measurements Height, weight, body mass index (BMI), weight history/weight change. Low BMI or unintentional weight loss may indicate malnutrition.
Biochemical data/test results Blood laboratory results (e.g., electrolytes, iron), clinical tests (e.g., gastric emptying time, metabolic rate). Abnormal blood or clinical results may indicate malnutrition/risk; but should be considered alongside other domains.
Nutrition-focused physical findings Physical appearance, appetite and other symptoms (swallow function, taste/smell changes, physical limitations). Thin appearance, muscle/fat wasting, reduced function, poor appetite and other nutrition impacting symptoms may indicate malnutrition.
Frailty assessment domains
Domain Description/measures
Health Co-morbidities/illnesses, age, self-reported health status, recent hospitalisation, polypharmacy, symptoms.
Physical Measures of weakness, exhaustion, decreased endurance/performance, slowness, balance, walking difficulty; weight loss, functional status, physical activity, dependence, disability (e.g., loss of hearing, sight).
Nutritional Appetite, dietary intake, nutrition impacting symptoms.
Psychological Cognition (memory, decision making), depression, anxiety.
Social Coping capacity, solitude, social relations/support.
Sarcopenia assessment domains
Domain Description/measures
Health Age, gender, recent hospitalisation
Physical Physical activity, muscle quantity and function, strength, gait, falls
Nutritional Weight, BMI, dietary intake, weight loss

* Other domains routinely assessed include: patient history (personal, medical, social history); nutrition assessment tools; aetiology category (nutrition diagnosis); and evaluation of progress towards nutrition-related goals/resolution of nutrition diagnosis(es).