[Situation and adequacy analysis of dysphagia diets at a regional hospital]

The study aims at confirming the adequacy of diets prescribed for dysphagia during hospitalization through a specific questionnaire to identify, give advice, and manage dysphagia. To compare and analyze the diet for dysphagia offered at our Hospital with the recommendations for a dysphagia diet published in recent nutritional literature. From the results obtained, to establish diet improvements (if necessary) and nursing working tools aimed at early detection of swallowing problems and decreasing the risk for Hyponutrition, dehydration and aspiration.

A cross-sectional study among patients from our hospital with a prescription for a dysphagia diet is performed, assessing the diet usefulness, the characteristics of the 30 patients admitted at the Hospital Complex of Segovia, in several nursing units and with an established diet for dysphagia for two months and with different pathologies. Ages were comprised between 68-85 years.

The questionnaire was analyzed and we verified that all patients had a swallowing impairment. The nutritional analysis showed an inadequate adaptation of hospital diet to dysphagia patients with regards to consistency of some dishes and the poor energy intake was significant (x 1339 kcal), poor protein intake (58 g), and a deficiency in some minerals (iron and calcium), and vitamins (vitamin C).

Dysphagia is a problem that affects a considerable number of patients in our Hospital (10-15%). The diet provided by the Hospital was inadequate before the study. A more adequate diet has been designed with regards to nutritional value and consistency, its indication is broaden, as well as interventional measures and previous patient assessment. The Nutrition Unit has implemented improvements in nutritional content.