Nutrition therapy in neurological diseases
- 08.10.2025
- English Articles
- Sonja Visontai
- Gabriele Gäbler
Peer reviewed / Manuscript (original) submitted: 19 July 2024; revision accepted: 10 January 2025
Development of an ICF-Dietetics core-assessment set including qualitative patient interviews
Background
According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, age-related neurological diseases, especially stroke and dementia, and the resulting disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and deaths are increasing worldwide, with Europe being particularly affected. Neurological diseases are the third most frequent cause in the DALYs ranking in Europe [1]. Neurological diseases are often chronic and life-threatening, resulting in immense costs to the healthcare system [2] and an increased need for multidisciplinary, patient- centered care [3]. Neurological diseases require a long-term approach to nutrition therapy because patients often have comorbidities such as weight loss with associated malnutrition, dysphagia, aspiration or gastrointestinal motility disorders. These nutritional problems place a variety of limitations on how patients live in their everyday lives [4, 5].
The ESPEN dementia guidelines advocate for a standardized approach to nutrition therapy in order to increase transparency and patient outcomes [6]. This requires international terminology and process models. There are currently two sets of dietetic terminology in use worldwide [7-9]. ...
Abstract
Background: The objective of this study is to develop the first standardized ICF-Dietetics core-assessment set for patients with selected neurological diseases.
Method: The standardized development process that was used includes previously published preliminary studies (a multicenter retrospective study, a systematic literature search, and a Delphi expert survey) as well as the qualitative study described in this article for the patient perspective and the consensus-building process in which the dietitians participated.
Method: The ICF-Dietetics core-assessment set contains a total of 128 ICF-Dietetics categories, arranged in levels: 74 in the second level, 27 in the third level, 25 in the fourth level and one in the fifth level, plus one chapter. Distribution of components: Body functions and structures 58, Activities 35, Participation 5, Environmental factors 12, Personal factors 18.
Result: This ICF-Dietetics core-assessment set for neurology enables dietitians to collect patient-specific information in a structured and systematic manner.
