Evaluation of nutrition and sarcopenia status of individuals over 65 years of age receiving homecare/treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic process

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, many variants of the responsible virus have been identified. The rapid spread of new variants has affected vulnerable populations such as the elderly people in need of care the most. Many strategies have been developed to prevent the risk of transmission in the process management, but the measures taken have shown that a number of disadvantages may also be encountered in the long term. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional and sarcopenia status of individuals aged 65 and older who were receiving homecare/treatment during the pandemic process. In this study, with the data of 62 volunteer elderly individuals (30 female, 32 male) residing in the Beyoglu district, some demographic characteristics, health and nutrition knowledge was questioned, anthropometric measurements were taken and the current malnutrition was evaluated with GLIM criteria, and sarcopenia status was evaluated with the algorithm EWGSOP2. The median age was 72 years (65-95 years), 48.4% (n=30) were female and 51.6% (n=32) were male. It was determined that 12.9% (n=8) of the participants were malnourished; 29% (n=18) had probable sarcopenia and 3.2% (n=2) had severe sarcopenia (p>0.05). It was found that the decrease in body weight due to the effects of the pandemic had a significant effect on the occurrence of malnutrition and sarcopenia (p<0.05). In this process, it was determined that the consumption of dried legumes and yellow vegetables had an effect on malnutrition; a significant negative relationship was found between the consumption of processed meat and sarcopenia (p<0.05). It was determined that sarcopenic individuals performed less in the 30sCST and completed the 4 m walking test in a longer time (p<0.05). Also; a significant effect was determined between income and malnutrition, and it was determined that the income level of all 8 people with malnutrition was below the minimum wage (p<0.05). Policies must be established, implemented and monitored to prevent malnutrition and sarcopenia at an early stage. Thus, the financial/moral obligations that the elderly people will create on themself and their health system will be relieved and the quality of life will increase.