The interpretation of the results of the SEFI® is based on the results of five clinical studies.

 

• In 114 in- and out- adult patients either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, a strong correlation was found between the score of the visual analogue scale and the daily energy intakes assessed by the 3-day dietary record. (8) Moreover, 81% of those with scores <7 were at risk of malnutrition according to the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI). (10) These results were confirmed by an independent study conducted in 1762 medical oncology patients. (11)

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SEFI® allows identifying the risk of malnutrition if visual analogue scale score <7.

 

• The European multicenter survey Nutrition Day in 16,290 (6) then 103,920 adult hospitalized patients worldwide established that food consumption ≤50% of offered portions at lunch or dinner was associated with an increased risk (by a factor of 2 to 8) of death 30 days after the evaluation.

 

SEFI® allows the detection of the risk of malnutrition if the consumed portion is ≤1/2 of the meal main course.

 

• In 128 older people living in nursing home, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of consumed portions ≤50% (evaluated by an health caregiver) to diagnose malnutrition, defined as Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)® <17 were respectively: 75, 87, 67, and 91% (AUC=0.81). (9)

 

In nursing homes, SEFI® diagnoses malnutrition if the consumed portion is ≤1/2 of the meal main course.

 

• In 505 patients consulting their GP in the community setting, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of SEFI® visual analogue scale <7 to diagnose malnutrition defined as weight loss ≥10% in 6 month and/or ≥5% in 1 month and/or BMI ≤18.5 (or <21 if age ≥70 yr), were respectively: 34, 85, 13, and 96%. (12)

 

In the community setting, SEFI® is accurate to rule out the diagnosis of malnutrition, if score ≥7.