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Malnutrition and its multidimensional determinants in institutionalized older adults: a cross-sectional study from resource-limited nursing homes in China
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  • Published: 21 March 2026

Malnutrition and its multidimensional determinants in institutionalized older adults: a cross-sectional study from resource-limited nursing homes in China

  • Juan Han1 na1,
  • Limei Tao2 na1,
  • Jiang Liu1,
  • Yongfeng Zhao1,
  • Xiaoming Huang1 &
  • …
  • Sijie Chen3 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

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  • Medical research
  • Risk factors

Abstract

China’s rapidly aging population faces disproportionate malnutrition risks in under-resourced nursing homes, particularly in Southwest regions with fragmented healthcare systems. To assess the nutritional status and its influencing factors among older adult residents in nursing homes in Nan Chong, Southwest China.A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2023 to March 2024, involving 205 older adult participants aged ≥ 60 years. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF), while sarcopenia, sleep quality, depression, and social support were assessed using validated scales. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression were performed. Among participants, 19.02% were malnourished, and 42.44% were at risk of malnutrition. Lower BMI (B = 0.256, P < 0.001), higher sarcopenia risk (B = -0.385, P < 0.001), and lower social support (B = -0.076, P = 0.008) were significant predictors of malnutrition. Malnutrition is prevalent among nursing home residents in Southwest China, with BMI, sarcopenia, and social support being key determinants. Targeted interventions should focus on improving dietary intake, muscle health, and social engagement.

Data availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to strict institutional ethical restrictions aimed at protecting the privacy and confidentiality of the institutionalized older adults. However, fully anonymized datasets can be shared by the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Data access will be granted under the following specific conditions: (1) approval must be obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Nanchong Central Hospital; and (2) the requesting researchers must sign a formal data-sharing agreement ensuring that the data will be used solely for non-commercial, academic research purposes.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff and participants of the nursing homes in Nan Chong for their cooperation.

Funding

This research was funded by the Nan Chong Philosophy and Social Science Research Planning Project. (Grant No. NC23B012)

Author information

Author notes

  1. Juan Han and Limei Tao contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, 637000, P.R. China

    Juan Han, Jiang Liu, Yongfeng Zhao & Xiaoming Huang

  2. Department of Nutrition, The Southwest Hospital of AMU, Chongqing, 400000, P.R. China

    Limei Tao

  3. School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Xidian University, Xi’an, 710126, P.R. China

    Sijie Chen

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Contributions

Concept and design: Juan Han, Limei Tao.Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Juan Han, Limei Tao, Sijie Chen.Statistical analysis: Sijie Chen, Yongfeng Zhao.Drafting of the manuscript: Juan Han, Sijie Chen.Review and editing of the manuscript: Xiaoming Huang, Jiang Liu.Methodology: Juan Han, Limei Tao.Supervision: Xiaoming Huang.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiaoming Huang or Sijie Chen.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of Nan Chong central hospital (Approval No. 2024 − 178). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. (The signed informed consent forms are retained by the institutional ethics committee and available upon request.)

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Han, J., Tao, L., Liu, J. et al. Malnutrition and its multidimensional determinants in institutionalized older adults: a cross-sectional study from resource-limited nursing homes in China. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44248-3

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  • Received: 10 June 2025

  • Accepted: 10 March 2026

  • Published: 21 March 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44248-3

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Keywords

  • Malnutrition
  • Sarcopenia
  • Body mass index (BMI)
  • Social support
  • Nursing home residents
  • Aging population
  • Resource-limited settings
  • Cross-sectional study
  • Southwest China
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