The utility of an admission assessment to predict in-hospital nutrient intake.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if pre-complication nutrient intake can be predicted based on an admission assessment.


METHODS
Survey (cross-sectional study).


METHODS
Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit (GRU) of a Veterans Administration hospital.


METHODS
Three-hundred-twelve randomly selected admissions to the GRU.


METHODS
At admission, each patient completed a comprehensive medical, neuropsychological, functional, and nutritional assessment. While remaining hospitalized, each subject was monitored on a daily basis for the development of complications. Complete calorie counts were obtained at least every other day, and the average pre-complication daily volitional nutrient intake was expressed as a percent of predicted requirements as determined using the Harris-Benedict equation.


RESULTS
Based on a stepwise linear regression analysis, the strongest predictor of pre-complication volitional intake was the first day calorie count, followed by waist circumference, the percent of weight lost in the 6 months prior to admission, supra-iliac skinfold thickness, and admission Katz ADL score. The model R2 = 0.66.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to predict pre-complication nutrient intake with a fair degree of accuracy based on an admission assessment, which includes a 1-day calorie count.
Sullivan
D H
DH
Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (182/LR), John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital, Little Rock, AR 72205.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010343:Patient Admission; D011897:Random Allocation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers