THE ASSESSMENT OF HOSPITAL MALNUTRITION IN GERIATRIC POPULATION

Abstract

Poor nutritional status can occur at any age, but older people, especially because of frailty, are the most vulnerable. In elderly patient malnutrition has been associated with an increase of mortality and costs of health care. The aim of our study is to evaluate the nutritional status of hospitalized patients and other risk items. This is a retrospective study conducted at Geriatrics Division of Trieste from 01/01/2012 to 01/08/2019. Data of patients over 65 years were collected by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), the Activity of Daily Living scale (ADL), blood values such as albumin, lymphocytes and ferritin, the number of hospitalization drugs and other items included in a geriatric Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI). The overall number of patients included in this study was 3457 and the mean age was 84,16 +/- 7,38 years. The mean MNA score was 20,47 +/- 5,76. The percentage of malnourished people was 26,44% and 39,10% was at risk. Malnutrition was significantly associated with low level of ADL (p<0,001). Polypharmacy at the hospital admission was not associated with a low MNA score. Undiagnosed and untreated malnutrition is known to be a cause of mortality in the elderly hospitalized people. Especially for frailty old patients with low ADL and high MPI should be a priority to submit the screening for nutritional issue in order to improve the outcome for each patient.