Nutritional status study of inpatients in hospitals of Galicia.
OBJECTIVE
To know the prevalence of malnutrition and to validate a nutritional screening protocol (SP) in patients hospitalised in Hospitals representative of inpatients admitted for acute illnesses in Galicia.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 376 randomised patients (189 female, 210 > or =65 y old) from 12 public hospitals admitted to hospital for acute medical, surgical or trauma illnesses. The patients elicited were evaluated by a simple SP, including variables relative to recent weight changes, serum albumin, lymphocytes, food ingestion and diagnosis at admission (Cardona's Protocol), and with a diagnostic protocol (DP, Subjective Global Assessment). Both SP and DP were performed by personnel trained in nutritional evaluation. Results of SP and DP were compared; principal factors related to malnutrition were also analysed; statistical significance was considered at P<0.05.


RESULTS
From patients studied, according to DP 169/360 (46.94%), patients presented malnutrition (134 B category and 35C category). SP rate was significantly related to severity of malnutrition detected by DP (P<0.001). The principal factors related to the presence of malnutrition were older age and degree of metabolic stress.


CONCLUSIONS
In adult patients admitted for acute illnesses, the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition is high. The risk was related to age and to metabolic stress. The risk of malnutrition in a hospital setting is evaluated appropriately by a simple screening procedure that may contribute to detecting and correcting malnutrition risk.
Martínez Olmos
M A
MA
Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital do Meixoeiro, Cno Meixoeiro S/N, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain. miguel.angel.martinez.olmos@sergas.es
Martínez Vázquez
M J
MJ
Martínez-Puga López
E
E
del Campo Pérez
V
V
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology