Abstract
Introduction: This study aims to assess the impact of malnutrition and frailty on morbidity and mortality in geriatric patients in the internal intensive care unit. Materials and Method: The study is prospective, descriptive, and cross-sectional in design, conducted at intensive care unit. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, clinical evaluations, and laboratory parameters are recorded for each patient. Various nutritional screening tools such as the modified NUTRIC score, Subjective Global Assessment, Nutritional Risk Screening, Mini Nutritional Assessment - Short Form, and frailty assessment scales like Edmonton Frailty Scale and Clinical Frailty Scale are used. Results: The patients were divided into two groups: survivors and non-survivors. The mean Nutritional Risk Screening -2002 score was 5.20±0.70 for the survivors group and 6.15±0.57 for the non-survivors group (p<0.001). The mean Mini Nutritional Assessment - Short Form score was 8.20±0.82 for the survivors group and 6.46±1.02 for the non-survivors group (p<0.001). According to the modified NUTRIC score, 40 patients (97.6%) in the non-survivors group were at high risk of malnutrition (p<0.001). According to the Edmonton Frailty Score, in the non-survivors group, 1 patient (2.4%) was classified as light frail, 21 patients (51.2%) as mild frail, and 19 patients (46.3%) as severe frail (p<0.001). The mean Clinical Frailty Score was 5.89±0.99 for the survivors group and 8.0±0.0 for the non-survivors group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Due to the significant prevalence of malnutrition and frailty in the critical patient population being monitored in the intensive care unit, both conditions should be regularly assessed. Keywords: Intensive Care Unit; Malnutrition; Frailty; Mortality; Geriatrics.