Which item is NOT assessed in the Mini Nutritional Assessment?

The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is a widely used screening tool designed to identify older adults who are at risk of malnutrition. It evaluates various factors that may influence nutritional status, including food intake, mobility, cognitive function, and psychological well-being.

The items included in the MNA focus on aspects that directly relate to one's nutritional needs and health status. For example, food intake/decline assesses the person's nutritional consumption history, mobility evaluates physical capability which can affect access to food and preparation, and dementia/depression looks at cognitive and psychological factors that may influence eating habits.

Socioeconomic status, while an important factor in overall health and access to resources, is not directly assessed within the MNA framework. The assessment itself focuses more on immediate, personal factors affecting nutrition rather than broader socioeconomic conditions. Therefore, recognizing that socioeconomic status is not part of the MNA highlights the specific focus of the assessment on health and nutritional risk rather than socio-economic determinants.