TY - JOUR
T1 - Water-loss dehydration and aging
AU - Hooper, Lee
AU - Bunn, Diane
AU - Jimoh, Florence O.
AU - Fairweather-Tait, Susan J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This report is independent research arising from a Career Development Fellowship supported by the National Institute for Health Research and has received funding from the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement n. 266486 (NU-AGE project entitled “New dietary strategies addressing the specific needs of elderly population for a healthy ageing in Europe”), ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01754012 . The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health.
PY - 2014/3
Y1 - 2014/3
N2 - This review defines water-loss and salt-loss dehydration. For older people serum osmolality appears the most appropriate gold standard for diagnosis of water-loss dehydration, but clear signs of early dehydration have not been developed. In older adults, lower muscle mass, reduced kidney function, physical and cognitive disabilities, blunted thirst, and polypharmacy all increase dehydration risk. Cross-sectional studies suggest a water-loss dehydration prevalence of 20-30% in this population. Water-loss dehydration is associated with higher mortality, morbidity and disability in older people, but evidence is still needed that this relationship is causal. There are a variety of ways we may be able to help older people reduce their risk of dehydration by recognising that they are not drinking enough, and being helped to drink more. Strategies to increase fluid intake in residential care homes include identifying and overcoming individual and institutional barriers to drinking, such as being worried about not reaching the toilet in time, physical inability to make or to reach drinks, and reduced social drinking and drinking pleasure. Research needs are discussed, some of which will be addressed by the FP7-funded NU-AGE (New dietary strategies addressing the specific needs of elderly population for a healthy ageing in Europe) trial.
AB - This review defines water-loss and salt-loss dehydration. For older people serum osmolality appears the most appropriate gold standard for diagnosis of water-loss dehydration, but clear signs of early dehydration have not been developed. In older adults, lower muscle mass, reduced kidney function, physical and cognitive disabilities, blunted thirst, and polypharmacy all increase dehydration risk. Cross-sectional studies suggest a water-loss dehydration prevalence of 20-30% in this population. Water-loss dehydration is associated with higher mortality, morbidity and disability in older people, but evidence is still needed that this relationship is causal. There are a variety of ways we may be able to help older people reduce their risk of dehydration by recognising that they are not drinking enough, and being helped to drink more. Strategies to increase fluid intake in residential care homes include identifying and overcoming individual and institutional barriers to drinking, such as being worried about not reaching the toilet in time, physical inability to make or to reach drinks, and reduced social drinking and drinking pleasure. Research needs are discussed, some of which will be addressed by the FP7-funded NU-AGE (New dietary strategies addressing the specific needs of elderly population for a healthy ageing in Europe) trial.
KW - Aged
KW - Dehydration
KW - Drinking
KW - Osmolar concentration
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84899977332&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.mad.2013.11.009
DO - 10.1016/j.mad.2013.11.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 24333321
AN - SCOPUS:84899977332
SN - 0047-6374
VL - 136-137
SP - 50
EP - 58
JO - Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
JF - Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
ER -