Use of 10-point analogue scales to estimate dietary intake: A prospective study in patients nutritionally at-risk

SummaryBackground & aimsAssessment of dietary intake using a 3-day dietary record may delay the management of undernutrition. Methods allowing a quick estimation of dietary intake are needed. We aimed to determine the feasibility of assessing dietary intake using two 10-point verbal (AVeS) and visual (AViS) analogue scales, to assess the correlations of both scales with energy intake, and to determine the accuracy of AVeS for assessing undernutrition.MethodsWe prospectively recruited 114 patients undernourished or nutritionally at-risk in two French University Hospitals. Undernutrition was defined as a Nutritional Risk Index <97.5. AVeS and AViS were performed by one interviewer and mean daily energy intake was calculated from 3-day dietary records by one dietician.ResultsThe feasibility of AVeS and AViS was 98% and 96%, respectively. Both verbal and visual scales were statistically correlated with calculated energy intake (ρ = 0.66 and ρ = 0.74, P < 0.0001), especially in undernourished patients (ρ = 0.82, P < 0.0001, for AVeS). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of an AVeS score less than 7 for assessing undernutrition were 57%, 81%, 86% and 46%, respectively.ConclusionAVeS and AViS could be used for a quick assessment of dietary intake in clinical practice, particularly in undernourished in-patients. Thus, both verbal and visual analogue scales could be particularly useful for the management of hospital undernutrition.