ArticleBMJ public health2026
Prevalence of low-intake dehydration in hospitalised older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Article in BMJ public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Treatment for Hyperosmolar Dehydration in Hospitalised Adults: Protocol for a Scoping Review of Current Evidence and Gaps.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Low-intake dehydration is associated with higher mortality and poor health outcomes in older adults. Contributing factors (physiological, physical and cognitive decline, incontinence worries and reduced social drinking) may be exacerbated by illness, unfamiliar environment and routines in hospitalised older adults. We conducted a high-quality systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate dehydration prevalence amongst hospitalised adults (≥65 years) at admission. Methods: We included studies of hospitalised participants measuring serum osmolality or osmolarity. MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and CINAHL were searched (inception to July 2024). Inclusion, data extraction and risk of bias were assessed independently in duplicate. Data were described and synthesised in random effects meta-analysis (Meta-XL 5.3) and synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM). Subgrouping assessed associations between dehydration prevalence and renal impairment, cognitive impairment, diabetic status, dependence, ethnicity, age, sex and economic status. Results: 19 studies (of 13 097 assessed) reported the most reliable low-intake dehydration measures (directly measured osmolality >300 mOsm/kg, calculated osmolarity using Khajuria Krahn equation >300 mmol/L). 14 398 hospitalised participants were included of whom 5039 (35%) were dehydrated at or near admission. While meta-analysis suggested 23% (95% CI 17% to 30%, Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) moderate-quality evidence) were dehydrated, heterogeneity was high (I Conclusions: Between a quarter and a third of older adults have low-intake dehydration on hospital admission, varying with patient characteristics. Supporting older adults to drink well in hospital may be the appropriate response given high prevalence and severe health consequences. Trials are needed to assess effectiveness of in-hospital interventions to support drinking and improve health outcomes. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021293763.
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