E-ISSN 2651-3455 (Online) | ISSN 2630-5593 (Print)
Effect of Nutritional Status and Muscle Strength on Mortality of the Palliative Care Patients [anatol j fm]
anatol j fm. 2022; 5(2): 117-122 | DOI: 10.5505/anatoljfm.2022.94914

Effect of Nutritional Status and Muscle Strength on Mortality of the Palliative Care Patients

Yasin Güçlü1, Hakan Demirci1, Gökhan Ocakoğlu2, Özge Aydın Güçlü3
1Department of Family Medicine, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
2Department of Biostatistics, Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey
3Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the association of nutritional status and muscle strength measurement results of the patients in the palliative care unit during their 6-month survival.
METHODS: In this prospective observational study, the effects of nutritional status on mortality were evaluated during the 6-month follow-up of patients hospitalized in the palliative care units of Bursa State Hospitals between January 2018 and April 2018. Their handgrip strength was measured by a hand dynamometer, and their subcutaneous adipose tissue was measured by skin-fold calipers. Mini Nutritional Assessment was used to evaluate the sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status of the patients.
RESULTS: A total of 211 patients aged 73.3±14.6 years treated in the palliative clinic were included in the study, of which 112 (53.1%) were males. The frequency of malnutrition at the beginning of follow-up was 75 (78.1%) in the living group and 108 (93.9%) in the dead group (p=0.001). During the 6-month follow-up period, 115 (54.5%) cases died. The frequency of malnutrition after 6 months was observed in 175 (82.9%) of the entire patients. The average muscle strength of the right and left arms was found to be significantly higher in alive patients than in dead patients [5.0 (0.0–21.8) kg vs 0.0 (0.0–10.0), p=0.001].
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Nutritional status and muscle strength may be important in palliative care patients’ survival. It would be appropriate to promote a balanced diet and physical activity to patients before the need for palliative care develops.

Keywords: Malnutrition, mortality, muscle strength

Corresponding Author: Hakan Demirci, Türkiye
Manuscript Language: English
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