Prevention of malnutrition in older people during and after hospitalisation: results from a randomised controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
to prevent the occurrence of weight loss during hospitalisation and following discharge by daily oral supplementation.


METHODS
in a prospective, randomised, controlled study of 80 patients aged 75 or more, and at risk of undernutrition based on their initial Mini Nutritional Assessment score, patients were randomised into a control group or one receiving oral supplementation. The intervention was a prescription of 200 ml sweet or salty sip feed twice daily (500 kcal, 21 g protein per day) throughout hospitalisation and convalescence. Nutritional status was assessed at baseline and after 2 months using Mini Nutritional Assessment and body weight record.


RESULTS
compliance with oral supplementation was good and daily extra energy intake was 407+/-184 kcal. On day 60, significant weight loss from upon admission was observed in the control group (-1.23+/-2.5 kg; P=0.01), but not in the supplemented group (0.28+/-3.8 kg; NS). At the end of the study, Mini Nutritional Assessment scores were higher in the supplemented group than in the control group (23.5+/-3.9 versus 20.8+/-3.6; P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
use of daily oral supplementation during and after hospitalisation maintains body weight and increases Mini Nutritional Assessment score in patients at risk of undernutrition.
Service de gériatrie CHR Citadelle, Liège, Belgium. claire.gazzotti@chrcitadelle.be
Claire
C
Gazzotti
Franck
F
Arnaud-Battandier
Maria
M
Parello
Sylvie
S
Farine
Laurence
L
Seidel
Adelin
A
Albert
Jean
J
Petermans
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015431:Weight Loss