Hospital Associated Variation in Nutritional Status and Dietary Compliance of Elderly Patients

Hospital Associated Variation in Nutritional Status and Dietary Compliance of Elderly Patients

Authors

  • Fatima Farooq University Institute of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Syeda Uroosa Jafri Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Afifa Tanweer Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Rida Khan Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21649/akemu.v23i4.5071

Abstract

Background:

Malnutrition is associated with detrimental aftermaths for patients including increased infections, complications, exacerbated muscle loss, prolonged hospital stay, and is often underdiagnosed.

Objective: The study was carried out to determine the hospital associated variability of nutritional status, impact of length of stay on malnutrition in geriatrics.

Methods:

A sample of 100 participants was selected for a single group pretest posttest quasi experimental study. Interviewer administered questionnaire and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) tool were used to collect data both at the time of admission and discharge. Within group pre-admission and post-discharge outcomes including nutrition practices, dietary compliance and nutritional status assessed by SGA were compared.

Results:

The BMI of the participants decreased at the time of discharge (22.89±4.44 kg/m2 pretest vs. 22.25±4.46 kg/m2 posttest) and more adults were categorized undernourished (13% in pretest vs.17% in posttest). A significant decrease in well-nourished participants (45.0% pretest vs. 32.0% posttest), and increased malnourished individuals (12.0% pretest vs. 25.0% posttest) was observed.

Conclusion:

Length of stay along with dietary constraints in geriatrics affects the nutritional status drastically. Targeted dietetic interventions can decrease hospital associated malnourishment. Dietary compliance of hospitalized patients can be ensured by educating the patient/caregiver to reduce the risk of malnutrition and hospital readmission. Patients already malnourished at admission are more prone to have deteriorating health.

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Published

12/31/2023

How to Cite

Farooq, F. ., Jafri, S. U. ., Tanweer, A. ., & Khan, R. . (2023). Hospital Associated Variation in Nutritional Status and Dietary Compliance of Elderly Patients. Annals of King Edward Medical University, 29(4), 347–355. https://doi.org/10.21649/akemu.v23i4.5071

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 4 (2023): AKEMU

Section

Research Articles

URN

http://annalskemu.org/journal/urn:ISSN:2016AKEMU.v23i4.5071

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Annals of King Edward Medical University

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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