Studying the Association Between Folic Acid Deficiency and Social Isolation for Elderly Patients

University Hospital, Strasbourg, France61 enrolled

Overview

Social isolation among elderly people is a frequent and major determinant for health. The risk of premature death is 2 to 5 time higher for socially isolated people, similarly for morbidity, duration of healing and complications rate. Denutrition is also frequent for elderly people with potentially serious consequences. Vitamin deficiency, especially in B9 and B12 vitamins, are often associated with denutrition among elderly people. Folic acid (vitamin B9) is not influenced by inflammation and folic acid income are necessarily exogene. Vitamin B9 is provided by fresh fruits and vegetables, and giblets. The investigators observed a high prevalence in folic acid deficiency for socially isolated elderly patients. The investigators made the hypothesis that a folic acid defiency is associated with social isolation for elderly people. The primary purpose is the study of the association between folic acid deficiency (measured by dosing of plasma concentration of vitamin B9) and social isolation evaluated by Lubben Social Network Scale in 6 questions. The secondary purposes are the study of the correlation between folic acid deficiency and social conditions, nutritional status, biological data, poly pharmacy, cognitive functions, dependency and length of stay at hospital.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Folic Acid Deficiency Social Isolation Elderly Patients

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 75 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion criteria : * Patients hospitalized in geriatric rehabilitation care in Strasbourg University Hospital * Age \> 75 years * Patient has given his consent Exclusion criteria : * Digestive malabsorption disorder : gastrectomy, extended intestinal resection, Crohn disease, celiac disease, parenteral nutrition * Chronic alcoholism * Treatment with sulfamids, methotrexate, anti epileptic treatment (hydantoin) * Hemodialysis * Patients under protection measure (curatorship, guardianship, judicial protection) * Patient refuses to participate

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Measure of plasma concentration on vitamin B9 by blood test taken in regular hospital admission

Folic acid deficiency is evaluated by dosing of plasma concentration of vitamin B9 through blood test taken in regular hospital admission. Folic acid deficiency is defined by a concentration under 3 ng/mL.

Time frame: 10 weeks

Measure of social isolation by Lubben Social Network Scale in 6 questions

Social isolation is measured by score results on LSNS-6 auto-survey. A score lower than 12/30 is associated with social isolation.