Is the prevalence of dehydration among community-dwelling older adults really low? Informing current debate over the fluid recommendation for adults aged 70+years
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15092317 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jodi Stookey (0000-0001-9604-2392, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, corresponding author), Jodi Dunmeyer Stookey, Carl F Pieper (0000-0003-4809-1725, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center), Harvey Jay Cohen (Duke University Hospital) |
| Year | 2005 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Pages | 1275-1285 |
| Publication date | 2005-12-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Public Health Nutrition (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1079/phn2005829 |
| PMID | 16372923 |
| OpenAlex | W2156462473 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 23 |
Objective The fluid recommendation for adults aged 70+ years has been criticised on the basis of a low prevalence of dehydration in community-dwelling older adults. This study explores whether the low prevalence might reflect limitations of individual dehydration indices. Design Cross-sectional data on plasma sodium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose and potassium were used to classify 1737 participants of the 1992 Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) (70+ years) according to multiple dehydration indices. Associations between dehydration indices, health and functional status were evaluated. Results Depending on the indicator used, the prevalence of dehydration ranged from 0.5% for hypotonic hypovolaemia only (plasma tonicity −1 with orthostatic hypotension) to 60% with dehydration defined as either plasma sodium ≥145 mEq l −1 , BUN/creatinine ratio ≥20, tonicity ≥295 mOsm l −1 , or hypotonic hypovolaemia. Elevated tonicity and BUN/creatinine ratio were respectively associated with chronic disease and functional impairment. Conclusions The true prevalence of dehydration among community-dwelling adults may be low or high, depending on the indicator(s) used to define dehydration. Before we can pinpoint a generalisable prevalence of dehydration for community-dwelling seniors and draw conclusions about fluid recommendations, validation studies of dehydration indices and longitudinal studies of dehydration, health and functional status are needed
Blood urea nitrogen · Creatinine · Dehydration · Osmole · Tonicity · Body Composition Measurement Techniques · Chemistry · Medicine · Nutrition and Health in Aging · Thermoregulation and physiological responses · Biochemistry · Internal Medicine
| Citations per year | 0.19 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2010 - 2025 (16) |
| Highly cited | No |