Frequency of malnutrition and associated risk factors in geriatric patients in a palliative care unit

Introduction
Our study aimed to determine the frequency of malnutrition and associated risk factors in older patients receiving palliative care.

Material and methods
This prospective cross-sectional study was performed with older patients hospitalized and treated in the palliative care unit of our university between December 1, 2022 and June 1, 2023. The demographic characteristics of the patients, reasons for palliative care admission, and the referring unit were recorded. The patients’ nutritional status was assessed using the full mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI). Selected laboratory parameters were recorded at admission to the palliative care unit.

Results
The 371 patients included in the study had a median age of 74 years and 58.5% were female. Malnutrition was detected more frequently in geriatric palliative care patients with cerebrovascular disease, malignancy, dementia, and congestive heart failure. Malnutrition was detected in 69.32% of the patients according to GNRI and in 64.80% according to MNA. Prealbumin had the highest specificity (92.3%) at a cut-off value of 0.175 mg/dl. The multivariate logistic regression model created with these variables showed that female sex, Ca, Cl, prealbumin, and hemoglobin were significant independent risk factors for malnutrition (p < 0.05). Female sex was associated with 2.5 times higher odds of malnutrition.

Conclusions
The prevalence of malnutrition was found to be high among geriatric palliative care patients in our study. The geriatric nutritional risk index can be used to diagnose malnutrition in immobile older palliative care patients and may be applied in routine patient follow-up to help improve quality of life.