Clinical Assessment and Nutritional Diagnosis Flashcards

What does the subjective global assessment (SGA) primarily evaluate?

Answer: Medical history, dietary intake, GI symptoms, functional capacity, and physical examination

SGA is a validated bedside tool that categorizes nutritional status using history (weight change, dietary intake, GI symptoms, functional capacity) and physical examination (fat/muscle wasting, edema).

Which dietary assessment method has the highest accuracy for estimating actual nutrient intake over multiple days?

Answer: Multiple-day weighed food record

A weighed food record in which the subject weighs all food before eating provides the most accurate quantitative estimate of nutrient intake when conducted over 3-7 days.

A serum albumin level below which threshold indicates severe hypoalbuminemia associated with malnutrition?

Answer: 2.1 g/dL

Serum albumin below 2.1 g/dL indicates severe hypoalbuminemia; values between 2.1-2.8 g/dL suggest moderate depletion, though albumin also reflects inflammation and hydration status.

Which method is considered the gold standard for measuring body composition in clinical research?

Answer: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)

DEXA is the gold standard for body composition measurement, providing precise quantification of fat mass, lean mass, and bone mineral density with low radiation exposure.

Handgrip strength measurement is used in nutritional assessment to evaluate which parameter?

Answer: Skeletal muscle function and sarcopenia risk

Handgrip strength is a validated surrogate measure of overall muscle strength and is used to screen for sarcopenia and functional decline associated with malnutrition.

Which marker is most useful for assessing iron stores in a nutritional evaluation?

Answer: Serum ferritin

Serum ferritin reflects iron stores most directly, with low levels indicating iron depletion before anemia develops, making it the earliest indicator of iron deficiency.