Effect of Active Nutrition Care on Underweight Elderly Patients Receiving Long-term Enteral Tube Feeding / 대한지역사회영양학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the effect of active nutrition care on feeding and nutritional status of elderly patients receiving long-term enteral tube feeding. METHODS: Subjects included 77 elderly patients who had received enteral nutrition more than one week before admission. Nutrition care was provided to patients supplied less calories than required. Feeding intolerance was examined and managed every day and formula was adjusted to meet nutritional requirement during the first 3 months after admission. Patients were classified into under or over 80% of percent ideal body weight (PIBW) and medical records were used to compare changes in weight,, biochemical indices, and nutritional status during the study. RESULTS: Weight, BMI, triglyceride and total cholesterol in blood, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels were significantly lower in patients under 80% of the PIBW than in those over 80% of the PIBW at admission. The percentage of supply to required calories was also lower in patients under 80% of the PIBW. After 1 month of nutritional care, supplied volume of formula was significantly increased in patients under 80% of the PIBW. Weight, BMI, and PIBW were increased and there were no differences between groups after 6 months. In addition, the concentrations of triglyceride and total cholesterol in blood, hemoglobin, and hematocrit tended to increase in patients under 80% of the PIBW, leading to no difference between groups after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Personalized active nutrition care is effective to increase weight and improve feeding and nutritional status in underweight elderly patients receiving longterm enteral nutrition.