[Patients in treatment for malnutrition in primary care, study of 500 real patients].
OBJECTIVE
The worsening of the nutritional status of certain segments of the population has led to frequent situations of chronic undernourishment even in the healthy population. There are very few data available on the prevalence and causes of malnutrition in Primary Health Care. The present study attempts to provide measurable information, obtained at random from the doctors involved in the country's Primary Health Care, on the characteristics of the undernourished patients, the cause of the undernourishment, the diagnostic means used, the treatment applied and the progress of the patients regularly treated in Primary Health Care facilities.


METHODS
A sample of 1,819 doctors in Primary Health Care were surveyed to know their opinions on the nutritional status of their patients. They were asked to complete a "Patient Record" for the first patient to enter their office suffering from undernourishment. A total of 505 Patient Records were received from the different Primary Health Care doctors taking part in the study throughout Spain.


RESULTS
Of the patients included, 10% were aged less than 10, while 46.7% were between 16 and 65 years of age and 44.2% were over 65. The main diagnosis in these patients was varied, with cancer patients (22.6%) and anorexics, including anorexia nerviosa and other non-oncological causes, (16.4%) the most common. As for the tests used for diagnosing undernourishment, those most frequently applied were physical examination (61%) and biochemical tests (56.4%). The risk factor most commonly found in these patients was old age/senility (21%). Nutritional support (55.8%) and dietary recommendations (45.3%) were the therapies most often applied. Only 47% of patients correctly implemented their treatment according to the doctors in Primary Health Care and the prognosis was as follows: 31% were expected to improve, 20% to worsen and 44% of cases would remain stable.


CONCLUSIONS
From this study, it is concluded that most undernourished patients in Primary Health Care are there due to a severe pathology or because of age; that anthropometric and biochemical methods are used for diagnosis purposes although the clinical interview is of basic importance; that a large proportion of patients require some type of nutritional supplements; and finally that, according to the doctors, the expectations of improvement in the nutritional status of these patients are not good.
Soto Moreno
A
A
Unidad de Nutrición Clínica, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío España.
Venegas Moreno
E
E
Santos Rubio
M
M
Sanz
León
L
García Luna
P P
PP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011320:Primary Health Care
Pacientes en tratamiento por desnutrición en atención primaria, estudio sobre 500 pacientes reales.