Assessment of nutritional status and muscle strength in patients hospitalized in geriatric ward

Background. The process of the progressive ageing of the population is an inevitable consequence of the extension of life expectancy. Physical activity and overall physical fitness directly affect the reduction of morbidity and mortality, and leads to self-reliance, the ability to participate in society and the family, and substantially influence the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. They are, among others, dependent on nutritional status and muscle strength. Objectives. The aim of the work was to assess nutritional status and strength of the upper extremity in the elderly patients and their interconnections. Material and methods. The study was conducted in geriatric ward. The assessment included 35 patients, 14 women and 11 men. Basic anthropometric data (height, weight, body fat thickness) were analyzed, and exponent of nutritional status of patients was a typical scale of nutritional status - Mini Nutritional Assesment (MNA). Using a set of hydraulic dynamometers the authors also measured the strength of hands and thumbs of both upper limbs. Results. The average age of respondents was 74.5 +/- 6.7 years, the result of shortened screening protocol MNA formed at 11.1 +/- 2.2 points, and full protocol MNA at 23.8 +/- 3.9 points. The average strength of the dominant hand grip amounted to 21.3 +/- 11.9 kg and the strength of thumb was 5.96 +/- 4.75 kg. As important statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05) the authors consider a strong positive correlation between the subjective evaluation of the health status and education (r = 0.46), shortened (r = 0.46) and full (r = 0.45) result of questionnaire MNA, a positive correlation of these two parameters with the thickness of adipose tissue (r = 0.37 and r = 0.38). Conclusions. Only 37% of people aged 65+ showed the result of the MNA scale pointing the possibility of malnutrition threat, the authors did not diagnose malnutrition patients. In the test group of elderly patients the authors failed to demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between nutritional status and strength of the upper limbs.