Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional status of patients aged ≥65 years admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), compare the compliance with the nutritional status screening tools, and determine the effect of malnutrition on mortality.

Methods: Patients who were admitted to ICU and could receive nutrition orally were included into this study.  The Nutritional Risk Score 2002 (NRS-2002) and Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) were administered, and the Nutritional Risk Index and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) scores were calculated. Patients were divided into two groups according to their survival status. The nutritional status was evaluated and found to be in accordance with the screening tools.

Results: The rate of malnutrition/severe nutrition risk was found to be 28.4%–60%, and the normal nutritional status was 1.7%–33.3%. In-hospital mortality was 41.7%. The duration of stay in ICU (8.0±9.8 days; 20.5±20.0 days, p=0.03), duration of stay in hospital (16.9±14.4 days; 28.5±24.6 days; p=0.029) and mechanical ventilation duration (4.38±6.8 days; 15.56±17.2 days; p=0.01) in patients who survived were shorter than in patients those who died. The male gender, patients with an NRS-2002 score ≥5 and NRI score ≥81.2 had higher mortality rates (respectively, p=0.013, p=0.019, p=0.036). The NRS-2002 was found to have the highest sensitivity; NRI was the highest specificity screening tool.

Conclusion: The risk of malnutrition/severe nutrition risk was found to be 28.4%–60%. We found that the male gender, NRS-2002 ≥5, and NRI ≥81.2 were associated with higher mortality. The NRS-2002 was found to have the highest sensitivity; NRI was the highest specificity screening tool. We think that the usage of one screening tool for predicting malnutrition in elderly patients is not sufficient in the diagnosis of malnutrition, and these methods should be evaluated together.

Keywords: GNRI, geriatric patient, intensive care, malnutrition, MNA-SF