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Malnutrition in geriatric patients : A neglected problem?

Elmståhl, Sölve LU ; Persson, Mats ; Andren, Margareta and Blabolil, Vlasta (1997) In Journal of Advanced Nursing 26(5). p.851-855
Abstract

The nutrient intake in geriatric long-stay patients and the mortality risk associated with low energy intake were studied in 61 patients, 43 women and 18 men, with a mean age of 87 years, at a geriatric long-stay care hospital during a 6-month follow-up. Dietary intake was assessed with a 9-day dietary record. Energy expenditure was calculated assuming a physical activity level of 1.33 × basal metabolic rate (BMR), predicted from equations given by FAO/WHO. Mean energy intakes were 1557 kcal in men and 1280 kcal in women; 84% of the patients had an intake below estimated energy expenditure and 30% were below estimated BMR. Only 5% received dietary supplement. Eleven out of the 61 patients died during the follow-up and the deceased had... (More)

The nutrient intake in geriatric long-stay patients and the mortality risk associated with low energy intake were studied in 61 patients, 43 women and 18 men, with a mean age of 87 years, at a geriatric long-stay care hospital during a 6-month follow-up. Dietary intake was assessed with a 9-day dietary record. Energy expenditure was calculated assuming a physical activity level of 1.33 × basal metabolic rate (BMR), predicted from equations given by FAO/WHO. Mean energy intakes were 1557 kcal in men and 1280 kcal in women; 84% of the patients had an intake below estimated energy expenditure and 30% were below estimated BMR. Only 5% received dietary supplement. Eleven out of the 61 patients died during the follow-up and the deceased had lower energy intake than the others (1185 kcal vs 1401 kcal, P<0.05). An energy intake below median (1378 kcal) was associated with an age adjusted increased 6-month mortality risk, odds ratio 12.5. A high proportion of geriatric long-stay patients report dietary intake far below present recommendations and are thereby at risk for having/developing malnutrition. Improved surveillance of geriatric long-stay patients' dietary habits seems justified.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Diet, Malnutrition, Mortality, Nursing
in
Journal of Advanced Nursing
volume
26
issue
5
pages
5 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:0031280205
  • pmid:9372387
ISSN
0309-2402
DOI
10.1046/j.1365-2648.1997.00404.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
90f07604-7f9f-447e-abc9-7ba69a61fc13
date added to LUP
2019-06-19 11:31:46
date last changed
2024-02-15 13:13:39
@article{90f07604-7f9f-447e-abc9-7ba69a61fc13,
  abstract     = {{<p>The nutrient intake in geriatric long-stay patients and the mortality risk associated with low energy intake were studied in 61 patients, 43 women and 18 men, with a mean age of 87 years, at a geriatric long-stay care hospital during a 6-month follow-up. Dietary intake was assessed with a 9-day dietary record. Energy expenditure was calculated assuming a physical activity level of 1.33 × basal metabolic rate (BMR), predicted from equations given by FAO/WHO. Mean energy intakes were 1557 kcal in men and 1280 kcal in women; 84% of the patients had an intake below estimated energy expenditure and 30% were below estimated BMR. Only 5% received dietary supplement. Eleven out of the 61 patients died during the follow-up and the deceased had lower energy intake than the others (1185 kcal vs 1401 kcal, P&lt;0.05). An energy intake below median (1378 kcal) was associated with an age adjusted increased 6-month mortality risk, odds ratio 12.5. A high proportion of geriatric long-stay patients report dietary intake far below present recommendations and are thereby at risk for having/developing malnutrition. Improved surveillance of geriatric long-stay patients' dietary habits seems justified.</p>}},
  author       = {{Elmståhl, Sölve and Persson, Mats and Andren, Margareta and Blabolil, Vlasta}},
  issn         = {{0309-2402}},
  keywords     = {{Diet; Malnutrition; Mortality; Nursing}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{851--855}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Advanced Nursing}},
  title        = {{Malnutrition in geriatric patients : A neglected problem?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.1997.00404.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1046/j.1365-2648.1997.00404.x}},
  volume       = {{26}},
  year         = {{1997}},
}