The evolution of nutritional status of geriatric patients without cachexia is associated with food intake in...

To determine if changes in patients' nutritional status during hospitalization are related to daily energy and protein intakes when cachectic/inflammatory conditions are controlled for.

Prospective study.

A total of 32 non-cachectic patients (21 women; 65-92 y).

Nutritional status was evaluated at admission and discharge using the Protein-Energy Malnutrition Index which includes BMI, %IBW, TS, MAC, albumin, hemoglobin and lymphocyte count. Food intake was assessed 3 meals/day every other day for an average of 46.2 +/- 14.6 meals/participant.

In all, 47% of the study sample was malnourished at admission. Nutritional status improved in 73% of patients who had been identified as malnourished and in 30 % of non-malnourished patients at admission. Total energy intake correlated with improvements in BMI, %IBW and total lymphocyte count (all p < 0.04). Improvement in PEMI score for the whole group was associated with functional status (p < 0.05). Controlling for this variable, energy (kj/kg body weight) and protein (g/kg body weight) intakes correlated positively with improvements in BMI, %IBW and MAC (Energy: partial r = 0.644, 0.624, 0.466 respectively; Protein: partial r = 0.582, 0.554, 0.433 respectively; all p < 0.05).

Results from this study offer strong evidence that when cachectic/inflammatory conditions are controlled for, standard nutrition care is compatible with the maintenance or improvement of nutritional status during the hospital stay.