Association between the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index and the risk of readmission in older inpatients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Jing Wang, Guifang Liao, Qiwu Jin
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) was associated with readmission and length of stay among hospitalized patients aged 60 years or older. Thirty-six case-control or cohort studies were included. Across 12 studies involving 234,116 patients, the high-GNRI group had lower readmission risk than the comparison group (RR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.53-0.68; I 2 = 70.8%). Twenty-six studies involving 30,461 patients also found shorter total hospital and ICU stays associated with higher GNRI.
Key findings
- Across 12 studies (n = 234,116), high GNRI was associated with lower readmission risk (RR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.53-0.68; I 2 = 70.8%).
- Twenty-six studies (n = 30,461) found shorter total hospital and ICU stays associated with higher GNRI.
Why it matters
GNRI may help identify older inpatients with nutritional risk who are also more likely to experience readmission or longer stays. These associations can inform risk assessment and motivate further evaluation of nutritional status as part of care planning, while not establishing that changing GNRI or providing nutritional intervention will prevent these outcomes.
What to keep in mind
The evidence came from case-control or cohort studies, so the associations do not establish causation. Readmission results showed substantial heterogeneity (I 2 = 70.8%).