[Nutritional status in hospitalized younger and elderly patients]

The purpose of the study was to compare the nutritional state in a group of hospitalised patients aged over 65 years and a group of younger patients. Information about body height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), weight index (WI), percent weight loss and energy intake was obtained from 89 elderly and 55 younger patients. We found no significant difference in the prevalence of malnutrition (BMI < or = 18.5 kg/m2 and/or WI < or = 80%) or underweight (BMI < 20 kg/m2) among the elderly patients compared to younger. However, significantly more elderly patients had lost more than 5% of their body weight (52.1% vs. 10.0%, p < 0.001). Also, the elderly patients had had a significantly longer hospital stay before the survey started (14 days vs. 4 days, p < 0.001). The prevalence of weight loss was higher (74% vs. 30%, chi 2 = 8.1, p < 0.01) among the elderly with the longest stay (18 days vs. 4 days). Therefore, special attention must be directed towards the nutritional status of the elderly patient in order to initiate nutritional support in time.