Abstract
Malnutrition affects the somatic health of elderly patients and worsens their rehabilitation potential. The interaction between malnutrition and impaired physical status is still unknown. The aim of the study was to examine the association between nutritional status and selected geriatric syndromes in hospitalized elderly patients. Material and methods . The study was conducted on a sample of 479 elderly and senile patients admitted in a hospital. Each patient underwent a comprehensive geriatric examination with an assessment of physical status parameters: nutritional status, walking pace, balance, basic functionality, the risk of falls by Morse Scale, orthostatic hypotension, chronic pain syndrome, the “Time up and go” test. Results and discussion . Walking pace was reduced in patients at risk of malnutrition to a greater extent than in those without nutritional problems, all patients with malnutrition showed reduced walking pace. The walking pace, balance test times, and Barthel scale performance decreased in the malnutrition and risk-malnutrition groups. The time to complete the Timed Up and Go test increased. Patients at high risk of falls according to the Morse scale, with high-intensity chronic pain syndrome are at risk of malnutrition and malnutrition. The visual analog pain scale value increases in groups at risk of malnutrition and malnutrition. Walking pace increased by 73 % (odds ratio (OR) 1.73; 95% confidence interval (95 % CI) 1.13−2.65), time to complete the Timed Up and Go test decreased by 78 % (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.04−1.16), the Barthel Index increased by 139 % (OR 2.39; 95 % CI 1.53−3.75) with increasing Mini Nutritional Assessment scale score. Conclusions . When writing an individual rehabilitation program for an elderly patient, it is necessary to assess the nutritional status and take into account the possibilities of correcting malnutrition.