TY - JOUR T1 - The Association Between Malnutrition and Constipation in Elderly Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Analysis TT - Yaşlı Bireylerde Yetersiz Beslenme ve Kabızlık Arasındaki İlişki: Kesitsel Bir Analiz AU - Tilekli, Mehmet Mustafa AU - Acar Tek, Nilüfer AU - Baygut, Hatice PY - 2025 DA - November Y2 - 2025 DO - 10.71445/umbd.1793078 JF - Uluborlu Mesleki Bilimler Dergisi PB - Isparta Uygulamalı Bilimler Üniversitesi WT - DergiPark SN - 2651-5423 SP - 10 EP - 20 VL - 8 IS - 3 LA - en AB - This study aimed to examine the association between malnutrition and constipation in elderly individuals and to explore how nutritional status influences constipation risk, severity, and quality of life. Materials and Methods: A total of 358 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years participated voluntarily. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment–Short Form (MNA-SF), and constipation was evaluated using the Constipation Risk Assessment Scale (CRAS), Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAC-QOL), and the Constipation Severity Instrument (CSI). Anthropometric measurements and 1-day dietary intake records were collected through face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: Energy, macronutrient (protein, carbohydrate, fat), and dietary fiber intake significantly differed by nutritional status (p<0.05). Participants with malnutrition had higher constipation risk scores, more severe symptoms, and worse constipation-related quality of life (all p<0.001). A strong positive correlation was observed between MNA-SF scores and fiber intake (r=0.751, p<0.001).Conclusions: Malnutrition and constipation are closely interrelated in the elderly. Poor nutritional status, especially inadequate fiber and energy intake, is associated with increased constipation burden and lower quality of life. Early identification of malnutrition and implementation of tailored dietary interventions may improve gastrointestinal health and support healthy aging. KW - Constipation KW - Elderly KW - Malnutrition KW - Nutritional Assessment N2 - Bu çalışma, yaşlı bireylerde yetersiz beslenme ile kabızlık arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Toplam 358 adet 65 yaş ve üzeri birey gönüllü olarak çalışmaya katılmıştır. Beslenme durumu Mini Beslenme Değerlendirmesi-Kısa Form (MNA-SF) ile kabızlık Kabızlık Risk Değerlendirme Ölçeği (CRAS), Hasta Kabızlık Yaşam Kalitesi Değerlendirme Anketi (PAC-QOL) ve Kabızlık Şiddeti Aracı (CSI) kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Antropometrik ölçümler ve 1 günlük besin tüketim kayıtları yüz yüze görüşme ile toplandı. Veriler SPSS 20. sürüm kullanılarak analiz edildi. Sonuçlar: Enerji, makrobesin (protein, karbonhidrat, yağ) ve diyet lifi alımı beslenme durumuna göre farklılık gösterdi (p<0,05). Yetersiz beslenen katılımcılar daha yüksek kabızlık risk skorlarına, daha şiddetli semptomlara ve kabızlıkla ilişkili daha kötü yaşam kalitesine sahipti (tümü p<0,001). MNA-SF skorları ile lif alımı arasında güçlü bir ilişki gözlendi (r=0,751, p<0,001). Yetersiz beslenme ve kabızlık yaşlılarda yakından ilişkilidir. Yetersiz beslenme, yetersiz lif ve enerji alımı, kabızlık yükünün artması ve yaşam kalitesinin düşmesi ile ilişkilidir. Malnütrisyonda kişiye özel diyet gastrointestinal sağlığı iyileştirebilir ve sağlıklı yaşlanmayı destekleyebilir. CR - Arab, L., et al. (2021). Validation of food photography for dietary assessment in older adults. Public Health Nutrition, 24(3), 449–461. CR - Ayilavarapu, S., Kanasi, E., & Jones, J. (2016). The aging population: Demographics and the biology of aging. Periodontology 2000, 72(1), 13–18. CR - Barkoukis, H. (2016). 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Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Chinese version of the Malnutrition Awareness Scale among community-dwelling older adults. Geriatric Nursing, 63, 550-558. UR - https://doi.org/10.71445/umbd.1793078 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/5283206 ER -