Assessment of food intake in hospitalised patients: a 10-year comparative study of a prospective hospital survey.
OBJECTIVE
A food quality control and improvement permanent process was initiated in 1999. To evaluate the food service evolution, protein-energy needs coverage were compared in 1999 and 2008 with the same structure survey in all hospitalized patients receiving 3 meals/day.


METHODS
Nutritional values of food provided, consumed and wasted over 24h including non-exclusive nutritional support were calculated individually. Nutritional needs were estimated as 110% of Harris-Benedict formula for energy and 1.2 or 1.0 g protein/kg/day for patients <65 or ≥65 years old, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified factors associated with low nutritional intake in both populations standardized to body mass index (BMI) of 1999's patients.


RESULTS
Out of 1677 patients, 1291 were included. Mean BMI was higher in 2008 than 1999 (P<0.001). The proportion of underfed patients was unchanged (69 vs. 70%, NS). The consumption of ≥1 oral nutritional supplements (ONS) daily increased the protein needs coverage from 80% to 115% (P<0.001). The year 1999, high BMI, 1st week of hospital stay, specific diet, ONS absence and low meal quality were associated with low nutritional intakes.


CONCLUSIONS
The nutritional needs coverage could have improved in 2008 if BMI was similar to 1999's. ONS consumption is associated with a lower risk of underfeeding in hospitalized patients.
Unité de Nutrition, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Genève, Switzerland.
Ronan
R
Thibault
Marinette
M
Chikhi
Aurélie
A
Clerc
Patrice
P
Darmon
Pierre
P
Chopard
Laurence
L
Genton
Michel P
MP
Kossovsky
Claude
C
Pichard
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005521:Food Service, Hospital; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011786:Quality Control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
D004044:Dietary Proteins