Incidence and recognition of malnutrition in hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To determine incidence of malnutrition among patients on admission to hospital, to monitor their changes in nutritional status during stay, and to determine awareness of nutrition in different clinical units.


METHODS
Prospective study of consecutive admissions.


METHODS
Acute teaching hospital.


METHODS
500 patients admitted to hospital: 100 each from general surgery, general medicine, respiratory medicine, orthopaedic surgery, and medicine for the elderly.


METHODS
Nutritional status of patients on admission and reassessment on discharge, review of case notes for information about nutritional status.


RESULTS
On admission, 200 of the 500 patients were undernourished (body mass index less than 20) and 34% were overweight (body mass index > 25). The 112 patients reassessed on discharge had mean weight loss of 5.4%, with greatest weight loss in those initially most undernourished. But the 10 patients referred for nutritional support showed mean weight gain of 7.9%. Review of case notes revealed that, of the 200 undernourished patients, only 96 had any nutritional information documented.


CONCLUSIONS
Malnutrition remains a largely unrecognised problem in hospital and highlights the need for education on clinical nutrition.
McWhirter
J P
JP
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee.
Pennington
C R
CR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010343:Patient Admission; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland; D015431:Weight Loss