Vnitr Lek 2024, 70(4):E3-E7

Assessment of nutritional status in geriatric inpatients

Jaroslav Madleňák, Ivana Bóriková

Ústav ošetrovateľstva, Univerzita Komenskeho v Bratislave, Jesseniova lekarska fakulta v Martine

Aim: To find out the nutritional status in hospitalized geriatric patients in the internal ward, and to find out if there is a statistically significant correlation between selected demographic data, health characteristics, and measurement tool.

Sample and methods. Geriatric patients aged ≥ 65 years hospitalized in the internal department. The design of the study is quantitative, descriptive, and correlational. The research protocol included monitored variables: demographic data, health characteristics, laboratory parameters, and a measurement tool to assess the nutritional status of MNA®. Empirical data was processed using of descriptive and inductive statistics methods.

Results: In the sample of n = 137 (100%) patients, 48% were men and 52% were women, the average age of the sample was 76.2 years. According to MNA®-FF, 9% of patients had normal nutritional status, up to 74% were at risk of malnutrition and 17% were malnourished; 99% had polymorbidity and 96% had polypharmacotherapy. We found statistical significance between the resulting MNA®-FF score and BMI (p < 0.001) and weight loss in the last 6 months (p < 0.001) and haemoglobin value (p = 0.033).

Conclusions: Hospitalized geriatric patients have an increased risk of malnutrition or already present malnutrition. Part of the comprehensive assessment of nutritional status is also the administration of a valid and reliable measuring tool that can quickly detect nutritional disorders when the patient is admitted to the hospital. Early identification of the disorder is the starting point for a targeted nutritional intervention.

Klíčová slova: assessment, geriatric patient, hospitalization, MNA® tool, nutritional status.

Přijato: 12. červen 2024; Zveřejněno: 20. červen 2024  Zobrazit citaci