Application of Nutritional Risk Score-2002 Questionnaire and Other Nutritional Status Parameters Among Hospitalized Elderly

SummaryBackgroundProper nutritional status is an important factor of successful aging and wellbeing of elderly patients. Screening and then treatment of malnutrition should be one of the main focuses of public health. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of Nutritional Risk Score-2002 (NRS-2002), and the anthropometric and biochemical parameters in the context of nutritional status.MethodsTotal of 1100 patient records from September 2012 to December 2014 were analyzed in terms of nutritional status assessment. The following were included for the analysis: NRS questionnaire, Body Mass Index (BMI), arm (AC) and calf circumference (CC), and concentration of albumin.ResultsMean age was 80.5 ± 7.3 years. The most frequent NRS-2002 score was indicating “risk of malnutrition” and its value increased with age. Mean albumin concentration was 3.49 ± 0.53 g/dl. Significant correlations between albumin concentration and arm and calf circumferences were found (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsPercentage of patients at nutritional risk determined with NRS was 18.8%. This result was significantly lower than in other studies. With accordance to results of other researchers, values of the NRS increased with age. Results regarding the relationship between the NRS values and albumin concentration, AC and CC (negative correlations) and albumin concentration with CC and AC (positive correlations) were consistent with the results of other researchers. In the assessment of the nutritional status of hospitalized elderly, the NRS-2002 should be combined with basic anthropometric measurements.