Malnutritional risk and nutritional support in geriatric inpatients / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the prevalence of malnutrition and nutritional support and interventions in geriatric inpatients.Methods The elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years)from the geriatric demonstration ward were consecutively enrolled from July 2010 to January 2012.MiniNutritional Assessment-short form (MNA-SF) was performed after admission,and data of nutritional support were collected.Results A total of 179 patients were enrolled in this study.According to MNA-SF,42 cases (23.5％)were rated as malnutrition,and 55 cases (30.7％) were rated as at risk of malnutrition.Totally,45 patients received nutritional support.50.0％ (21/42) patients with malnutrition,and 29.1％ (16/55) patients at risk of malnutrition received nutritional support.As to the route of nutrition therapy,the ratio of the enteral to parenteral to combination of enteral and parental nutrition was 4.4 ∶ 1.0 ∶ 1.0.Conclusions The incidence of malnutrition is high in the geriatric inpatients,and routine nutritional risk screening and assessment are essential for the elderly patients.Nutritional support and other comprehensive treatment are in great need,and the enteral nutrition is appropriate and preferred.