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Journals / Maltepe Tıp Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 17 Sayı: 1

Effects of Malnutrition and Polypharmacy on Fall Risk in Dementia Patients

Malnütrisyonun ve Polifarmasinin Demans Hastalarında Düşme Riski Üzerindeki Etkileri

Özlem Totuk(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL SANCAKTEPE ŞEHİR PROF. DR. İLHAN VARANK SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, NÖROLOJİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0001-7274-025X
Merve Türkkol(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL SANCAKTEPE ŞEHİR PROF. DR. İLHAN VARANK SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ)0009-0007-9290-6537
Esra Nur Sancar(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL SANCAKTEPE ŞEHİR PROF. DR. İLHAN VARANK SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ)0009-0008-5304-5508
Meltem Baykan Ünsal(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL SANCAKTEPE ŞEHİR PROF. DR. İLHAN VARANK SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0003-2830-5888
Şevki Sahin(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL SANCAKTEPE ŞEHİR PROF. DR. İLHAN VARANK SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0003-2016-9965
Pages
1–5
Publication Date
2025-04-29
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

It is necessary to monitor malnutrition at frequent intervals and use psychotropic drugs in as small amounts as possible, for short periods and for limited indications.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: It is aimed to evaluate the effects of malnutrition and polypharmacy on the risk of falling, which is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with dementia.
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Key Findings & Data:Results: A total of 240 dementia patients (150 women) were included in the study.
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Conclusion & Impact:It is necessary to monitor malnutrition at frequent intervals and use psychotropic drugs in as small amounts as possible, for short periods and for limited indications.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Demans · kognitif bozukluk · düşme

Abstract

Aim: It is aimed to evaluate the effects of malnutrition and polypharmacy on the risk of falling, which is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with dementia. Material Methods: This cross-sectional study includes early stage dementia patients who were followed for at least one year in the dementia outpatient clinic. As a criterion for polypharmacy, patients using more than five drugs were determined and drug types were divided into subgroups. The patients' Morse Drop Scale (MDS) and Mini Nutritional Assessment Scale (MNA) were filled in, and their Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Results: A total of 240 dementia patients (150 women) were included in the study. Patients with Alzheimer's Dementia (AD), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (LBD) and Vascular Dementia (VD) were studied. It has been observed that malnutrition and polypharmacy increase the risk of falling, and the highest risk was found in the psychotropic drug group. It has been observed that the use of a single antipsychotic increases the risk of falling more than the combination of antipsychotics and antidepressants, and this is associated with high doses of antipsychotics. Conclusion: When malnutrition is combined with polypharmacy and especially psychopolypharmacy, it significantly increases the risk of falls and related morbidity and mortality. It is necessary to monitor malnutrition at frequent intervals and use psychotropic drugs in as small amounts as possible, for short periods and for limited indications.

Özet

Amaç: Demans hastalarında morbidite ve mortalitenin önemli bir nedeni olan düşme riski üzerine beslenme yetersizliği ve çoklu ilaç kullanımının etkilerini değerlendirme amaçlanmaktadır. Materyal Metodlar: Bu kesitsel çalışma, demans polikliniğinde en az bir yıldır takip edilen erken evre demans hastalarını kapsamaktadır. Polifarmasi ölçütü olarak beşten fazla ilaç kullanan hastalar belirlenmiş ve ilaç tipleri alt gruplara ayrılmıştır. Hastaların Morse Düşme Ölçeği (MDÖ) ve Mini Nutrisyonel Değerlendirme Ölçeği (mini nutritional assessment-MNA) uygulandı. Bulgular: Çalışmaya toplamda 240 demans hastası (150 kadın) dahil edilmiştir. Alzheimer Demans (AD), Frontotemporal Demans (FTD), Lewy Cisimcikli Demans (LBD) ve Vasküler Demans (VD) olan hastalar incelenmiştir. Malnütrisyon ve polifarmasinin düşme riskini artırdığı gözlemlenmiş, en yüksek risk psikotrop ilaç grubunda bulunmuştur. Tek antipsikotik kullanımının antipsikotik ve antidepresan birlikteliğine göre düşme riskini daha çok arttırığı gözlenmiş olup, bu durum yüksek antipsikotik dozları ile ilişkilendirilmiştir. Sonuç: Malnütrisyon polifarmasi ve özellikle psikopolifarmasi ile bir araya geldiğinde düşme ve buna bağlı morbidite ve mortaliteyi ciddi oranda arttırmaktadır. Sık aralıklarla malnütrisyon takibinin yapılması ve olabildiğince az miktarda, kısa sürelerde ve kısıtlı endikasyonlarda psikotropik ilaçların kullanılması gereklidir.

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Cite This Article

Totuk, Ö., Türkkol, M., Sancar, E. N., Ünsal, M. B., Sahin, Ş. (2025). Effects of Malnutrition and Polypharmacy on Fall Risk in Dementia Patients. Maltepe Tıp Dergisi, Cilt: 17 Sayı: 1, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.35514/mtd.2025.120

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