title: Nutritional status and patient characteristics for hospitalised older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to describe and compare nutritional status and social and medical characteristics among older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to an acute care hospital ward for respiratory medicine.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a condition associated with risk of developing malnutrition. A body mass index <20 is predictive of hospitalisation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Knowledge about patient characteristics is crucial for the identification of malnourished patients and the development of nursing care for these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three hospitalised women and 17 men with a mean age of 75.7 years (SD 6.9) were consecutively included. A very severe case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was indicated in 28 out of 39 patients who underwent a lung function test. Data were collected with measurement of nutritional status using Mini Nutritional Assessment, anthropometry and lung function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly half of the patients (48%) were identified as malnourished, an equal part as at risk for malnutrition and two patients as well nourished. The mean Mini Nutritional Assessment score of 17.2 (SD 3.99) for all patients was near the Mini Nutritional Assessment cut-off score (i.e. 17) for malnutrition. Patients identified as malnourished had a mean body mass index of 18.9 and those at risk for malnutrition had a mean of 23.4. It was more common for those identified as malnourished to live singly, to not live in own property and to be dependent on daily community service. Seven patients identified as malnourished died during the data collection period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides important knowledge about further risks of impaired nutritional status among older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This knowledge can provide registered nurses with the necessary knowledge to make them aware of certain patients needing particular kinds of attention.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Medical Sciences, Orebro University, Orebro, Sweden. sigrid.odencrants@hi.oru.se
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Odencrants
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehnfors
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ehrenberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013548:Sweden