Prevalence and Clinical Associations of Malnutrition and Sarcopenia Risk in Gastroenterology Inpatients: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Turkey

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and sarcopenia risk among patients hospitalized in gastroenterology clinics across different geographical regions of Turkey, to identify their risk factors, and to evaluate their associations with clinical outcomes. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 1051 patients admitted to 36 gastroenterology clinics across six geographical regions of Turkey during the week of 14 November 2024 were evaluated in a cross-sectional design. The nutritional status of the patients was assessed using the NRS-2002 questionnaire, while the risk of sarcopenia was evaluated with the SARC-F questionnaire. Demographic data, clinical diagnoses, disease severity scores, and comorbidities were also recorded and analyzed. <b>Results</b>: Of the patients included in the study, 54.7% were female, and the mean age was 61.7 ± 17.2 years. The prevalence of malnutrition risk was 27.8%, while the prevalence of sarcopenia risk was 32.7%. Patients with malnutrition risk had a lower BMI (24.7 ± 5.3 vs. 27.1 ± 5.4, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and were older (67.6 ± 16.0 vs. 56.5 ± 17.1, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The risks of sarcopenia and malnutrition were significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis (40.7% malnutrition; 54.5% sarcopenia), gastrointestinal malignancy (50.5%; 44.2%), and diabetes mellitus. Logistic regression analysis identified older age, male sex, and presence of malignancy as independent risk factors for malnutrition, whereas older age, female sex, presence of malnutrition, liver cirrhosis, and heart failure were independent risk factors for sarcopenia. A strong correlation was also found between malnutrition and sarcopenia (r = 0.544, <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: Approximately one-third of patients hospitalized in gastroenterology clinics across Turkey are at risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia. These conditions are particularly associated with malignancy, cirrhosis, and metabolic comorbidities. Our findings highlight the necessity of systematic nutritional and sarcopenia screening upon hospital admission.

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Journal
Diagnostics
Published
2025-11-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15222935
Primary Topic
Nutrition and Health in Aging
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article
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article

Prevalence and Clinical Associations of Malnutrition and Sarcopenia Risk in Gastroenterology Inpatients: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Turkey

Ahmet UYANIKOĞLU, Meral Akdoğan, Hüseyin Alkım, Göksel Bengı et al.
Diagnostics
Nutrition and Health in Aging
article

Prevalence and Clinical Associations of Malnutrition and Sarcopenia Risk in Gastroenterology Inpatients: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Turkey

Ahmet UYANIKOĞLU, Meral Akdoğan, Hüseyin Alkım, Göksel Bengı, Genco Gençdal, Banu Kara, Yetkın Gök, Nevin Oruç, Gözde Derviş Hakim, Burak Özşeker, Müge Ustaoğlu, Haluk Tarık Kani, Ayşe Kefeli, Salih Tokmak, Ozan Cengiz, Berat Ebik, Hale Akpınar, Hakan Ünal, Filiz Araz, Müjde Soytürk, Altay Kandemır, Kader İrak, Nermin Mutlu Bilgiç, Sedat Boyacıoğlu, Süleyman Dolu, Murat Aladağ, Deniz Öğütmen Koç, Züleyha Akkan Çetinkaya, İsmail Atasoy, Ali Rıza Çalışkan, Yusuf Serdar Sakın, Özlem Gül Utku, Ufuk Kutluana, Sezgin Barutçu, Engin Altıntaşž, Pembe Keskinoğlu, Funda Uğur Kantar, Galip Egemen Atar, Mukaddes Tozlu, Çağlayan Keklikkıran, Tolga Gözmen, Yavuz Özden, Dilek Oğuz, Özdal Ersoy, Hasan Yılmaz
article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and sarcopenia risk among patients hospitalized in gastroenterology clinics across different geographical regions of Turkey, to identify their risk factors, and to evaluate their associations with clinical outcomes. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 1051 patients admitted to 36 gastroenterology clinics across six geographical regions of Turkey during the week of 14 November 2024 were evaluated in a cross-sectional design. The nutritional status of the patients was assessed using the NRS-2002 questionnaire, while the risk of sarcopenia was evaluated with the SARC-F questionnaire. Demographic data, clinical diagnoses, disease severity scores, and comorbidities were also recorded and analyzed. <b>Results</b>: Of the patients included in the study, 54.7% were female, and the mean age was 61.7 ± 17.2 years. The prevalence of malnutrition risk was 27.8%, while the prevalence of sarcopenia risk was 32.7%. Patients with malnutrition risk had a lower BMI (24.7 ± 5.3 vs. 27.1 ± 5.4, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and were older (67.6 ± 16.0 vs. 56.5 ± 17.1, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The risks of sarcopenia and malnutrition were significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis (40.7% malnutrition; 54.5% sarcopenia), gastrointestinal malignancy (50.5%; 44.2%), and diabetes mellitus. Logistic regression analysis identified older age, male sex, and presence of malignancy as independent risk factors for malnutrition, whereas older age, female sex, presence of malnutrition, liver cirrhosis, and heart failure were independent risk factors for sarcopenia. A strong correlation was also found between malnutrition and sarcopenia (r = 0.544, <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: Approximately one-third of patients hospitalized in gastroenterology clinics across Turkey are at risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia. These conditions are particularly associated with malignancy, cirrhosis, and metabolic comorbidities. Our findings highlight the necessity of systematic nutritional and sarcopenia screening upon hospital admission.

DiagnosticsVol. 15(22)
Izmir University (TR), Ankara University (TR), Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University (TR), Başkent University (TR), Dokuz Eylül University (TR), Adıyaman University (TR), Inonu University (TR), Usak University (TR), Ondokuz Mayıs University (TR), Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi (TR), Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi (TR), Acıbadem University (TR), Ege University (TR), Memorial Ankara Hospital (TR), Türkisch-Deutsche Universität (TR), Antalya Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Ümraniye Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Sakarya Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Kayseri Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi (TR), Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Sanko University (TR), Acıbadem University Atakent Hospital (TR), Istanbul Eye Hospital (TR), Lokman Hekim Üniversitesi (TR), Kent Hastanesi (TR), Gaziosmanpaşa Taksim Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Kırıkkale University (TR), Pamukkale University (TR), Mersin Üniversitesi (TR), Kocaeli Üniversitesi (TR), Marmara University (TR), Adnan Menderes University (TR), Muğla University (TR), Harran University (TR), University of Health Sciences Antigua (AG)
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Nutrition and Health in Aging
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