Abstract

Objectives: Frailty and malnutrition in older adults are associated with many adverse outcomes. Our study aimed to compare malnutrition and frailty scales and laboratory test results in older adults admitted to the emergency department

Materials and Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study was conducted in the emergency department of a university hospital. The frailty status of the patients was evaluated with the clinical frailty scale (CFS), and the patients were grouped as frail and non-frail. Mini nutritional assessment-short form (MNA-SF) evaluated malnutrition status. The patients were grouped as malnourished, malnutrition risky, and normal nutritional status. In addition to the basic biochemical parameters of the patients, prealbumin, iron, fasting insulin, hemoglobin a1c, vitamin B12, and parathyroid hormone levels were measured. The relationship between laboratory results and CFS and MNA-SF results was analyzed statistically.

Results: One hundred-six patients were included in the study. Sixty-six patients were female, and the mean age was 78.1±7.43 years. According to the CFS scale, 87.7% of the patients were found to be frail. According to MNA-SF, the rate of patients was 18.9% malnourished and 47.2% at risk of malnutrition. When the scales and laboratory results were compared, frail patients had lower levels of prealbumin, iron, total protein, hemoglobin, and sodium, which was statistically significant. In malnourished patients, prealbumin, fasting insulin, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, and calcium levels were lower.

Conclusion: In our study, we think that laboratory parameters can help in the early diagnosis of frailty and malnutrition.