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Malnutrition in subacute care
David R Thomas1, Carolyn D Zdrowski, Margaret-Mary Wilson
1Division of Geriatric Medicine, St Louis Health Sciences Center and The Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, St Louis Veterans Administration Medical Center, MO 63104, USA. thomasdr@slu.edu
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|January 30, 2002
Summary
Undernutrition is highly prevalent in subacute care, affecting over 91% of patients. This highlights the critical need for nutritional assessment and intervention in these facilities to improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Nutritional Science
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Acute hospitalization frequently leads to significant weight loss and hypoalbuminemia.
- Subacute care facilities admit patients who have experienced acute illness and may be at risk for malnutrition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of undernutrition among patients admitted to a subacute-care facility.
- To assess the relationship between nutritional status and clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 837 patients admitted to a 100-bed subacute-care center over 14 months.
- Nutritional status assessed using anthropometry, biochemical markers, and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA).
- Primary outcomes included length of stay and mortality; secondary outcomes included readmission and discharge placement.
Main Results:
- Over 91% of patients were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition (MNA).
- 53% had hypoalbuminemia, and 18% had a body mass index <19 kg/m(2).
- Malnourished patients experienced longer lengths of stay and higher readmission rates.
Conclusions:
- Malnutrition is a widespread issue in subacute care, potentially stemming from acute care or severe illness.
- Proactive nutritional assessment and management are essential in subacute care settings.
- Addressing malnutrition may improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare utilization.