Perioperative oral nutritional supplements in normally or mildly undernourished geriatric patients submitted to surgery for hip fracture: a randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Oral nutritional supplements have been recommended after orthopedic surgery in geriatric patients. This has been shown to be effective even in normally nourished or mildly undernourished geriatric patients. Whether perioperative administration of these products is also effective and suitable is not known.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled, open, paralleled two-arms clinical trial, comparing energy-protein supplements (40 g of protein and 400 kcal per day), with no intervention in normally nourished or mildly undernourished patients. Outcomes were serum proteins, body mass index, postoperative complications among others.


RESULTS
60 Elderly patients were included. Patients in the intervention group (n = 30) ingested 52.2 ± 12.1% of the prescribed supplements per day for 5.8 ± 1.8 days before surgery and until hospital discharge. There was a significant change in serum albumin at follow-up (F = 22.536, P < 0.001), and between the two groups (F = 5.763, P = 0.002), favouring the intervention. The same was observed for serum prealbumin (F = 6.654, P = 0.001 within subjects, F = 2.865, P = 0.045 for interaction). Logistic regression showed that only supplemented proteins per day (OR[95%CI] = 0.925[0.869-0.985]) were associated with less postoperative complications (R(2) = 0.323, χ(2) = 11.541, P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative supplements in geriatric patients with hip fracture submitted to surgery showed better recovery of plasma proteins. Higher daily protein intakes were associated with less postoperative complications.
Botella-Carretero
José I
JI
Unit of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain. jbotella.hrc@salud.madrid.org
Iglesias
Borja
B
Balsa
José A
JA
Arrieta
Francisco
F
Zamarrón
Isabel
I
Vázquez
Clotilde
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D059035:Perioperative Period; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin