Anorexia assessment using the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire and its association with activities of daily living in patients with stroke

•There was a significant correlation observed between the SNAQ score and nutritional status in stroke patients.•The SNAQ score in stroke patients was found to have an independent correlation with functional outcomes.•SNAQ can be a valuable tool for evaluating anorexia in stroke patients. Objective: This study aimed to validate the assessment of anorexia in patients with acute stroke using the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ). Research Methods & Procedures: This cross-sectional observational study assessed appetite using the SNAQ in patients with acute stroke at discharge from an acute care hospital. Additionally, the relationship between the SNAQ, Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and MNA-short form scores, skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and activities of daily living measured using the Functional Independence Measures for the motor domain (FIM-motor) was investigated. A multiple regression analysis was conducted with the FIM-motor as the dependent variable and the SNAQ and other confounding factors as explanatory variables to evaluate the association between the SNAQ and functional outcomes. Results: Among the 234 patients with stroke analyzed in this study, the median SNAQ score was 15 (interquartile range: 13–16) points. The SNAQ score significantly correlated with weight change, FIM-motor, nutritional assessment index, and energy and protein intake. However, no significant differences in body mass index, muscle mass, or muscle strength were observed. In the multiple regression analysis adjusted for confounders, the SNAQ score (β=0.106, p=0.007) was independently associated with the FIM-motor (adjusted R2=0.662). Conclusions: This study's results demonstrated a significant correlation between SNAQ scores and nutritional status, as well as an independent association with functional outcomes in patients with stroke. These findings suggest that the SNAQ can be a valuable tool for evaluating anorexia in this patient population.