OBJECTIVES : Worldwide, the prevalence of malnutrition is rising with the rise of the elderly population. The aim of our study is to assess the nutritional status of elderly patients in the hospital ward, the prevalence of malnutrition, and the role of malnutrition.

METHODS : Cross-sectional quantitative research was conducted between September 2016 and February 2017 at the Balassa János Hospital of Tolna County Hospital. Non-random, targeted sample selection included patients over 65 years of age under hospital care (N = 100). Exclusion criteria are cognitive dysfunction and end-stage patients. We used our own edited, standard questionnaires (MNA, NRS 2002, NSI) and performed anthropometric measurements. With Excel 2013, descriptive statistics were used to calculate χ² (p <0.05).

RESULTS : According to the results of the MNA screening method, 46% of the patients are malnourished, 47% are in the high risk category. 55% of patients with the NRS 2002 method were at risk. According to NSI, 91% of patients were at increased risk of malnutrition. Majority of the affected / missing teeth are affected by malnutrition (p = 0.032). There is a significant difference between the swallowing problem and malnutrition (p <0.001). Over 80 years, there is a higher incidence of malnutrition (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS : More than half of the elderly patients surveyed are undernourished or at increased risk. A significant proportion of the patients have a replacement, incomplete tooth, which plays a prominent role among the factors leading to malnutrition. The use of filtering methods takes a short time, but it provides important information from the first assessment of the nutritional status through continuous monitoring and enables the monitoring of changes in nutritional status.