Evaluation of malnutrition in patients over 65 years of age applicable to mediterranean Medical faculty Hospital internal diseases and geriatric policlinic

Malnutrition is a medical problem especially seen in people aged 65 and over. The elderly population is increasing and the average life expectancy is increasing due to the decrease in the fertility rate and the developing health industry both in the world and in our country. In this environment where the population over 65 years of age is increasing, malnutrition is an important public health problem. This study was carried out to determine the frequency of malnutrıtıon in the elderly who applied to the Geriatrics and Internal Diseases Polyclinic of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, the factors affecting it and the relations between each other. 200 volunteer participants were included in the study. 44% (n=88) of the participants were female and 56% (n=112) were male, and the mean age of the research group was 73.34±7.14 (min:65; max:92) years. Distributions regarding the nutritional status of the patients participating in the study showed that while the rate of those at risk of malnutrition was 51.5%, the rate of patients considered to have normal nutrition was 31.5% and 17% consists of patients with malnutrition. The incidence of malnutrition was found to be associated with advanced age, presence and number of chronic diseases, presence of COPD/asthma, psychiatric disease, polypharmacy and not having any hobbies. As a result; the incidence of malnutrıtıon is high in patients aged 65 and over who applied to our Internal Medicine and Geriatrics outpatient clinic, and appropriate health care should be provided for this group by evaluating malnutrıtıon risk factors in patients over 65 years of age with an appropriate geriatric approach. Key Words : Malnutrition, geriatrics, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form