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Nutritional status study of inpatients in hospitals of Galicia

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 938–946 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To know the prevalence of malnutrition and to validate a nutritional screening protocol (SP) in patients hospitalised in Hospitals representative of inpatients admitted for acute illnesses in Galicia.

Design:

Cross-sectional study of 376 randomised patients (189 female, 210 ⩾65 y old) from 12 public hospitals admitted to hospital for acute medical, surgical or trauma illnesses. The patients elicited were evaluated by a simple SP, including variables relative to recent weight changes, serum albumin, lymphocytes, food ingestion and diagnosis at admission (Cardona's Protocol), and with a diagnostic protocol (DP, Subjective Global Assessment). Both SP and DP were performed by personnel trained in nutritional evaluation. Results of SP and DP were compared; principal factors related to malnutrition were also analysed; statistical significance was considered at P<0.05.

Results:

From patients studied, according to DP 169/360 (46.94%), patients presented malnutrition (134 B category and 35C category). SP rate was significantly related to severity of malnutrition detected by DP (P<0.001). The principal factors related to the presence of malnutrition were older age and degree of metabolic stress.

Conclusions:

In adult patients admitted for acute illnesses, the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition is high. The risk was related to age and to metabolic stress. The risk of malnutrition in a hospital setting is evaluated appropriately by a simple screening procedure that may contribute to detecting and correcting malnutrition risk.

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Acknowledgements

This study has been conducted by means of a Grant of the Nutrition and Dietetics Society of Galicia (Beca SONUDIGA 2003). We want to acknowledge all participants in the study for their kind efforts in performing this study.

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Author notes

  1. M A Martínez Olmos, M J Martínez Vázquez, E Martínez-Puga López and V del Campo Pérez: Members of Collaborative Group for the Study of Hospital Malnutrition of Sonudiga: D Bellido Guerrero, E Molina Pérez, A Freire Fojo, M Granero López, P García Figueiras, A Ayúcar Ruiz de Galarreta, E Camarero González, P Cao Sánchez, C Galbán Rodríguez, M Lorenzo Solar, S Rodeiro, G Piñeiro Corrales, P Carabelos Acuña, I Alonso Troncoso, J Sánchez Nebra, JA Fernández Álvarez, JJ Varela Correa, T Fernández López, B Padrón Rodríguez, JA Mato Mato, A Gippini, I Solache Guerras, F Barreiro Pérez, A Lage Vázquez, A Rego Iraeta, C Soto Arias, T Calleja Chuclá, MJ Arbones Fernández-Vega, MJ Goberna Iglesias, G Rey García.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital do Meixoeiro, Cno Meixoeiro S/N, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain

    M A Martínez Olmos, M J Martínez Vázquez & V del Campo Pérez

  2. Juan Canalejo Hospital, La Coruña, Spain

    E Martínez-Puga López

Authors
  1. M A Martínez Olmos
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  2. M J Martínez Vázquez
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  3. E Martínez-Puga López
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  4. V del Campo Pérez
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Consortia

Collaborative Group for the Study of Hospital Malnutrition in Galicia (Spain)

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M A Martínez Olmos.

Additional information

Guarantor: Nutrition and Dietetic Society of Galicia.

Contributors: Nutrition and Dietetic Society of Galicia.

Appendices

Appendix A1

Appendix A2

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Olmos, M., Vázquez, M., López, EP. et al. Nutritional status study of inpatients in hospitals of Galicia. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 938–946 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602157

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