Risk factors for malnutrition in older Parkinson’s disease patients: a Vietnamese cross-sectional study

Malnutrition is a common but often underdiagnosed condition among individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and identify its associated clinical, functional, and metabolic factors in hospitalized older adults with PD in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 individuals diagnosed with PD. Nutritional status was evaluated using the full version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Multinomial logistic regression was performed to explore predictors of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition, using normal nutritional status as the reference group. Overall, 55.7% of participants were either malnourished (12.3%) or at risk of malnutrition (43.4%). Inpatient status (RRR = 0.19, p = 0.010; RRR = 0.51, p = 0.08), metabolic disorders (RRR = 0.14, p = 0.023; RRR = 1.15; p = 0.82) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) dependence (RRR = 0.06, p = 0.017; RRR = 0.52, p = 0.11) were associated with malnutrition, while female sex (RRR = 3.38, p < 0.001; RRR = 5.23, p = 0.014), depression (RRR = 6.38, p < 0.001; RRR = 6.63, p = 0.008), and motor complications (RRR = 1.17, p = 0.043; RRR = 1.32, p = 0.021) predicted both at-risk and malnutrition status. Malnutrition and nutritional risk are highly prevalent among Vietnamese individuals with PD and are closely linked to motor, psychological, and functional impairments. This study provides the first evidence from Vietnam identifying key predictors of malnutrition in this population. Routine nutritional screening using tools like the MNA, integrated into multidisciplinary care, is critical for early detection and intervention in older PD patients, particularly in LMIC settings.