Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between the nutritional status and frailty in hospitalized elderly patients and provide evidence for the nutritional intervention to improve the elderly frailty status. Methods A total of 371 elderly hospitalized patients aged 65 and over were selected and divided into non-frail, pre-frail and frail groups according to the Fried's Cardiovascular Health Study index (CHS index). Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF)and biochemical methods were used to assess the nutritional status of patients, and to analyze the effect of nutritional status on frailty. Results From non-frail group to frail group, the MNA-SF score, hemoglobin, albumin levels decreased gradually and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The malnutrition and risk of malnutrition incidence increased gradually, which were 12.4%, 38.3% and 58.0%, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). Spearman correlation analysis showed that MNA-SF score was negatively correlated with frailty (r=-0.426, P<0.01) and the malnutrition and risk malnutrition were positively correlated with frailty (r=0.405, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that the malnutrition increased the risk of frailty after adjusting for age, sex, hemoglobin, albumin, comorbidity, multiple drug use and other factors(OR=7.650, 95%CI:3.58=16.3, P<0.01). Conclusion There was a correlation between frail state and nutritional status in hospitalized elderly patients. The malnutrition is the important risk factor of the frail state.

Key words: elderly, frail, malnutrition, nutritional status, Fried's Cardiovascular Health Study index(CHS index)