[Nutritional study in geriatric patients (older than 65 years of age) with ambulatory enteral nutrition: correlation between underlying disease, nutritional support, and drug treatment].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the current status of out-patient enteral nutrition among elderly patients in Galicia: indications, access routes, forms of administration, types of diet, complications, disability status. Assessment of nutritional status and concomitant pharmacological treatment.


METHODS
Prospective, observational, multi-centric study lasting for one month. Data capture by means of a questionnaire regarding: age, sex, diagnosed pathology leading to nutritional analysis, disability status, current nutritional status, type of diet, months under treatment with NEA (out-patient enteral nutrition in its Spanish acronym), form of administration, complications, concomitant medication. The statistical methodology included a descriptive analysis and a study of the correlations between the different variables. For the comparison of both groups, Student's t test or Mann-Whitney's U test was used for quantitative variables and chi-squared, Yate's correction or Fisher's exact test was used for qualitative variables.


RESULTS
469 patients were studied, corresponding to 13 publicly-funded centres. Age: 81.15 years (95% CI 80.8-82.3), women (70.6%).


METHODS
neurological disorders (46.1%), cerebrovascular accidents (27.5%), neoplasia (12.4%) and others (14.1%). 45.2% presented a bedbound disability status and 53.5% presented communication difficulties. Standard diet was the most common (39.4%). DURATION OF THE NUTRITION: > 1 year in 36.7% of cases, between 6 months and 1 year for 21.3%, between 3 and 6 months for 10.9% and < 3 months in 13.7% of cases. Nasogastric tube was the route for administration in 55.2%. Patients with nutrition treatment lasting over 1 year presented a significantly lower rate of malnutrition (p < 0.0001). Neurological patients and those with communication difficulties had a lower prevalence of malnutrition (p < 0.0001), as did those with a greater degree of disability (p < 0.01). Undernourished patients presented a greater prevalence of bedsores (49.1% versus 25.8%, p < 0.0001). The mean number of prescribed medicines was 3.27 +/- 2.41, with 64% of them being administered through the nasogastric tube. The most frequent interaction was digoxin-fibre (29.6%) and incorrect administration was observed with omeprazol and medication to combat Parkinson's disease.
Martínez Vázquez
M J
MJ
Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Meixoeiro, Vigo.
Piñeiro Corrales
G
G
Martínez Olmos
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010045:Outpatients; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires