RISK OF MALNUTRITION IN ELDERLY DURING HOSPITALIZATION: EVALUATING FOOD INTAKE AND ANTHROPOMETRY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/demetra.2012.3275Abstract
Hospitalized elderly people are at higher nutritional risk and have worse prognosis. The nutritional evaluation of this group is complex, anthropometry and food intake being priority items. This study aimed to evaluate anthropometry and food intake of hospitalized elderly people. The study was conducted on 51 individuals of both sexes with a mean age of 76 ± 9 years. Anthropometric evaluation was performed by indirect methods (estimated weight and height) and direct methods (calf circumference [CC] and arm circumference [AC]). Regarding anthropometry, by using the body mass index (BMI) it was possible to identify that 41% of the elderly subjects had some degree of malnutrition, whereas, according to the percentage of AC adequacy, the rate of malnutrition was found to be 63%. The CC values were suggestive of nutritional risk in 59% of the elderly subjects. Sixty one percent of the participants showed insufficient food intake before hospitalization. After hospitalization only one of 30 elderly on hospital oral diet prescription met the predefined energy requirements. We conclude that the rate of malnutrition among hospitalized elderly subjects is high, a fact that may impair their clinical condition. Thus, anthropometric measurements are fundamental and AC and CC were important for the detection of nutritional risk in bed-ridden patients. The low food intake during hospitalization contributes to a worsening of clinical signs and symptoms and of quality of life and is another priority item for patient follow-up during hospitalization.
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