Nutrition in the First Week after Stroke Is Associated with Discharge to Home

Malnutrition is associated with poor clinical outcomes in stroke patients. The effect of early nutritional intake after admission on home discharge is unclear. We evaluated the impact of energy intake in the first week of hospitalization of acute stroke patients on home discharge and activities of daily living (ADL). A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 201 stroke patients admitted to an acute care hospital in Japan. The energy and protein intake during the first week were evaluated. Multivariate models were used to estimate variables related to discharge destination and ADL at discharge. The cut-off point of nutritional intake for determining the discharge destination was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Out of 163 patients included in the analysis, 89 (54.6%) and 74 (45.4%) were discharged home and elsewhere, respectively. Those discharged home had higher energy and protein intake than those discharged elsewhere. In multiple regression analysis, energy intake was independently associated with ADL at discharge and home discharge (odds ratio 1.146). Those with energy intake >20.7 kcal/kg/day had higher ADL at discharge and more patients discharged home than those with energy intake <20.7 kcal/kg/day. Energy intake during the first week affected home discharge in acute stroke patients.