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Is telehealth effective in managing malnutrition in community-dwelling older adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Is telehealth effective in managing malnutrition in community-dwelling older adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Wolfgang Marx, Jaimon T Kelly, Megan Crichton, Dana Craven, Jorja Collins, Hannah Mackay, Elisabeth Isenring and Skye Marshall
Maturitas, Vol.111, pp.31-46
2018
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PDF - Author Accepted Version (Open Access)688.72 kBDownloadView
Accepted VersionPDF - Author Accepted Version (Open Access)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0 Open Access
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2018.02.012View
Published Version

Abstract

protein-energy malnutrition malnutrition telehealth systematic review meta-analysis telemedicine
Telehealth offers a feasible method to provide nutrition support to malnourished older adults. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine the efficacy of telehealth methods in delivering malnutrition-related interventions to community-dwelling older adults. Studies in any language were searched in five electronic databases from inception to 2nd November 2017. Quality of the evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the GRADE approach. Nine studies were identified, with results published across 13 included publications, which had mostly low to unclear risk of bias. There were two interventions delivered to disease-specific groups, one with kidney disease and one with cancer; the remaining seven interventions were delivered to patients with mixed morbidities following discharge from an inpatient facility. Seven studies delivered telehealth via telephone consultations and two used internet-enabled telemedicine devices. Ten meta-analyses were performed. Malnutrition-focused telehealth interventions were found to improve protein intake in older adults by 0.13 g/kg body weight per day ([95%CI: 0.01-0.25]; P = 0.03; n = 2 studies; n = 200 participants; I2 = 41%; GRADE level: low) and to improve quality of life (standardised mean difference: 0.55 [95%CI: 0.11-0.99]; P = 0.01; n = 4 studies with n = 9 quality-of-life tools; n = 248 participants; I2 = 84%: GRADE level: very low). There were also trends towards improved nutrition status, physical function, energy intake, hospital readmission rates and mortality in the intervention groups. Overall, this review found telehealth is an effective method to deliver malnutrition-related interventions to older adults living at home, and is likely to result in clinical improvements compared with usual care or no intervention. However, further research with larger samples and stronger study designs are required to strengthen the body of evidence.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Obstetrics & Gynecology

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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#2 Zero Hunger
#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

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