[Socioeconomic and nutritional profile of patients with inflammatory bowel disease at a university hospital].
BACKGROUND
Inflammatory bowel diseases include chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorders, represented by ulcerative proctocolitis and Crohns disease, commonly associated with malnutrition.


OBJECTIVE
Characterize the nutritional and socioeconomic profile of patients hospitalized at the Pernambuco "Hospital das Clínicas", Recife, PE, Brazil.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study carried out at the gastroenterology clinic, which was previously approved by the Ethics Commission for studies involving human beings. The methods included clinical history data, socioeconomic conditions and nutritional assessment. Data were subject to statistical analysis (Students t test for equal and unequal variables).


RESULTS
The sample consisted of 24 male and female patients, with a mean age of 43.83 +/- 16.13 years, mostly married, coming from Recife, with low income, who lived in their own house with relatives. We found a higher prevalence of ulcerative proctocolitis (62.5%), with diagnosis time of more than 5 years, symptoms of abdominal pain, bloody-mucous diarrhea with 6-9 evacuations/day, with the distal colon being the most affected part. Osteoporosis was present in 26.7% of cases. Nutritional status was assessed through the body mass index. The weight loss percentage corresponded to 41.7% and 70.8%, respectively, classified as malnourished, associated or not with high prevalence levels of anemia, hypoalbuminemia and hypocalcemia. Gender correlation evidenced higher triceps fold and arm circumference values in men.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the study limitations, data suggest relevant information about the occurrence of these diseases in the northeast of Brazil, as well as about its frequent association with important nutritional deficiencies.
Salviano
Flávia Nunes
FN
Serviço de Nutrição, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE. fnunesalviano@ig.com.br
Burgos
Maria Goretti Pessoa de Araújo
MG
Santos
Eduila Couto
EC
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires