Nutritional risk screening and application of nutritional support among elderly hospitalized patients / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of nutritional risk and application of nutritional support among elderly hospitalized patients.Methods:Elderly hospitalized patients from Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) were consecutively enrolled from Feb 2016 to Feb 2019. Nutritional risk was measured by using nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS-2002) within the first 24h after admission. Body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), grip strength (GS), lean body mass (LBM), body fat (BF) and dietary intake were measured and compared between the patients at risk and not at-risk. Nutritional support was evaluated on 14th day of admission or the discharge day. The relationship between nutritional risk and nutrition support was analyzed.Results:A total of 428 elderly hospitalized patients who met entry criteria and obtained informed consent were consecutively enrolled. The prevalence of nutritional risk (NRS score≥3) was 57.9% (248/428), and it increased significantly with age ( χ2 value was 39.11, P<0.05). Compared to not at-risk group, body weight ( t value was 3.405, P<0.01) , BMI ( t value was 2.715, P<0.05) , GS ( t value was -0.975, P<0.05) , BF% ( t value was 2.934, P<0.05) , LBM ( t value was 1.570, P<0.05) , 75% target energy intake ( χ2 value was 22.55, P<0.01)and 75% target protein intake ( χ2 value was 25.91, P<0.01) were significantly decreased in those of at risk group. There were 62.5% patients at nutritional risk and 19.7% not at-risk which received nutrition support. The average ratio of EN and PN was 1.0∶0.6. Conclusions:NRS-2002 might be used for nutritional screening among elderly inpatients. A large proportion of elderly inpatients were at nutritional risk. The nutritional status of elderly patients in different disease states is different, which deserves attention. The application of EN and PN was some inappropriate in these inpatients, and evidence-based nutritional support guideline is needed to improve this situation.