Abstract
Objective:
To know the prevalence of malnutrition and to validate a nutritional screening protocol (SP) in patients hospitalised in Hospitals representative of inpatients admitted for acute illnesses in Galicia.
Design:
Cross-sectional study of 376 randomised patients (189 female, 210 ⩾65 y old) from 12 public hospitals admitted to hospital for acute medical, surgical or trauma illnesses. The patients elicited were evaluated by a simple SP, including variables relative to recent weight changes, serum albumin, lymphocytes, food ingestion and diagnosis at admission (Cardona's Protocol), and with a diagnostic protocol (DP, Subjective Global Assessment). Both SP and DP were performed by personnel trained in nutritional evaluation. Results of SP and DP were compared; principal factors related to malnutrition were also analysed; statistical significance was considered at P<0.05.
Results:
From patients studied, according to DP 169/360 (46.94%), patients presented malnutrition (134 B category and 35C category). SP rate was significantly related to severity of malnutrition detected by DP (P<0.001). The principal factors related to the presence of malnutrition were older age and degree of metabolic stress.
Conclusions:
In adult patients admitted for acute illnesses, the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition is high. The risk was related to age and to metabolic stress. The risk of malnutrition in a hospital setting is evaluated appropriately by a simple screening procedure that may contribute to detecting and correcting malnutrition risk.
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Acknowledgements
This study has been conducted by means of a Grant of the Nutrition and Dietetics Society of Galicia (Beca SONUDIGA 2003). We want to acknowledge all participants in the study for their kind efforts in performing this study.
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Guarantor: Nutrition and Dietetic Society of Galicia.
Contributors: Nutrition and Dietetic Society of Galicia.
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Olmos, M., Vázquez, M., López, EP. et al. Nutritional status study of inpatients in hospitals of Galicia. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 938–946 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602157
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602157
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