engleski

Nutrition profile in elderly - an important element in the puzzle of the modern treatment

Introduction and Objectives The geriatric population over the age of 65 has a high malnutrition prevalence and an increased risk of malnutrition. In addition to malnutrition, multi-morbidity, inadequate physical activity and the worsening of acute illness also lead to reduced performance and reduced body function. Appropriate nutrition and malnutrition detection in the sense of screening must, therefore, be considered in modern treatment planning to achieve the desired goals. Our study aimed to determine the incidence of malnutrition in elderly patients over the age of 65 years. Materials and Methods This study included 1159 patients older than 65 years (maximum age of 101 years) who were admitted to the geriatric department at the Luzerner Kantonsspital Wolhusen (Switzerland). To assess nutritional status, we applied the Mini Nutritional Assessment-LF, according to the recommendation of the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN). The subjects were divided into several different age groups, and the data obtained were then statistically processed. Results The analysis confirmed the high incidence of malnutrition in the geriatric population. A total of 751 patients – 64, 8% were malnourished or in the risk for malnutrition. The malnutrition was confirmed in 27, 9% of the patients, while the next 36, 9% were in the category of a high risk of malnutrition. The higher incidence of malnutrition was confirmed in the age group of 71-80 years. A lower MNA score also implies a significantly longer time of hospitalization. Conclusion Malnutrition and high risk of malnutrition are very common in patients over the age of 65, suggesting the need for regular and timely nutritional screening of geriatric patients to reduce the incidence of complications and improve prognosis in acute and rehabilitation medicine. At the same time, it can improve the efficiency of the treatment and shorten the duration of hospitalization, which also has significant economic implications.

malnutrition, elderly, geriatrics

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