Assessment of malnutrition status using MNA, MNA-SF, CONUT and SGA in geriatric patients with HFrEF

Abstract Introduction Malnutrition is a significant problem affecting the prognosis of elderly patients with heart failure. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nutritional status of geriatric patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%) and to compare the effectiveness of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form( MNA-SF), Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) malnutrition screening tools. Materials and methods One hundred thirty-eight patients aged 65 and over with heart failure were included in this study conducted at a tertiary care center. All participants were evaluated using the MNA, MNA-SF, SGA and CONUT score. Demographic data, clinical parameters, and laboratory findings were recorded. Results The prevalence of malnutrition was found to be 16.7% according to MNA, 17.4% according to SGA, and 13.0% according to CONUT score. A significant correlation was found between all three assessment tools ( p < 0.01). The malnutrition risk was identified in 47.8% of patients using MNA, while moderate malnutrition was detected in 43.5% using SGA, and mild malnutrition in 45.0% using CONUT score. Conclusion Malnutrition is a common problem in geriatric heart failure patients, requiring routine screening. All three assessment tools showed good correlation, suggesting their reliability in clinical practice. The MNA can be recommended as an initial screening tool, while SGA provides detailed assessment, and CONUT offers objective parameters. Integration of nutritional assessment into standard care protocols for geriatric heart failure patients is essential for improving clinical outcomes.