Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015 Mar 2;12(3):2700-17. doi: 10.3390/ijerph120302700.

Validation analysis of a geriatric dehydration screening tool in community-dwelling and institutionalized elderly people.

Rodrigues S¹, Silva J^2,³, Severo M^4,⁵, Inácio C⁶, Padrão P^7,⁸, Lopes C^9,¹⁰, Carvalho J¹¹, do Carmo I¹², Moreira P^13,^14,¹⁵.

Author information

1: Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Lisbon 1649-028, Portugal. susanarodrigues.nut@gmail.com.
2: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal. joanafcosta.silva@gmail.com.
3: Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Porto 4169-007, Portugal. joanafcosta.silva@gmail.com.
4: Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto 4200-319, Portugal. milton@med.up.pt.
5: Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Rua das Taipas, 135, Porto 4050-600, Portugal. milton@med.up.pt.
6: Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santarém, Largo Cândido dos Reis-Apartado 23, Santarém 2001-901, Portugal. catia.inacio@scms.pt.
7: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal. patriciapadrao@fcna.up.pt.
8: Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Rua das Taipas, 135, Porto 4050-600, Portugal. patriciapadrao@fcna.up.pt.
9: Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto 4200-319, Portugal. carlal@med.up.pt.
10: Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Rua das Taipas, 135, Porto 4050-600, Portugal. carlal@med.up.pt.
11: Research Center of Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91, Porto 4200-450, Portugal. jcarvalho@fade.up.pt.
12: Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Lisbon 1649-028, Portugal. isabel.carmo72@gmail.com.
13: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal. pedromoreira@fcna.up.pt.
14: Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Rua das Taipas, 135, Porto 4050-600, Portugal. pedromoreira@fcna.up.pt.
15: Research Center of Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91, Porto 4200-450, Portugal. pedromoreira@fcna.up.pt.

Abstract

Dehydration is common among elderly people. The aim of this study was to perform validation analysis of a geriatric dehydration-screening tool (DST) in the assessment of hydration status in elderly people. This tool was based on the DST proposed by Vivanti et al., which is composed by 11 items (four physical signs of dehydration and seven questions about thirst sensation, pain and mobility), with four questions extra about drinking habits. The resulting questionnaire was evaluated in a convenience sample comprising institutionalized (n=29) and community-dwelling (n=74) elderly people. Urinary parameters were assessed (24-h urine osmolality and volume) and free water reserve (FWR) was calculated. Exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the scale's dimensionality and Cronbach's alpha was used to measure the reliability of each subscale. Construct's validity was tested using linear regression to estimate the association between scores in each dimension and urinary parameters. Two factors emerged from factor analysis, which were named "Hydration Score" and "Pain Score", and both subscales showed acceptable reliabilities. The "Hydration Score" was negatively associated with 24-h urine osmolality in community-dwelling; and the "Pain Score" was negatively associated with 24-h urine osmolality, and positively associated with 24-h urine volume and FWR in institutionalized elderly people.