LB125 - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM ZINC LEVELS, MALNUTRITION, FRAILTY, AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF 300 INDIVIDUALS

LB125

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM ZINC LEVELS, MALNUTRITION, FRAILTY, AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF 300 INDIVIDUALS

H. Yesin^1,*, M. Varlı¹

¹Department of Geriatrics, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, ankara , Türkiye

Rationale: This study aimed to investigate the association between serum zinc levels and malnutrition,frailty and hematological parameters in older adults,and to evulate the potential of zinc as a biochemical marker for nutritional and functional status

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 300 patients aged 65 and older who presented to the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and frailty status was evaluated with the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Serum zinc levels and hematological parameters including hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and red cell distribution width (RDW) were obtained from medical records. Participants were categorized based on MNA scores into well-nourished (MNA ≥ 24), at risk of malnutrition (MNA: 17–23.5), and malnourished (MNA < 17), and classified as frail or non-frail based on CFS scores.

Results: The mean age of participants was 77.4 ± 6.5 years, and 60% were female. According to MNA scores, 35% were malnourished, 45% were at risk of malnutrition, and 20% were well-nourished. Frailty was identified in 62% of the patients.
- Serum zinc levels were significantly lower in the malnourished group (p < 0.001).
- A positive correlation was found between serum zinc levels and MNA scores (r = 0.34, p < 0.001).
- Frail patients had significantly lower serum zinc levels compared to non-frail individuals (p = 0.01).
- Patients with lower zinc levels also had significantly lower Hb and MCV levels and higher RDW values (p = 0.03, p = 0.04, and p = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 300 patients aged 65 and older who presented to the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and frailty status was evaluated with the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Serum zinc levels and hematological parameters including hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and red cell distribution width (RDW) were obtained from medical records. Participants were categorized based on MNA scores into well-nourished (MNA ≥ 24), at risk of malnutrition (MNA: 17–23.5), and malnourished (MNA < 17), and classified as frail or non-frail based on CFS scores.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared