title: The long-term nutritional status in stroke patients and its predictive factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malnutrition is common in the first few months after stroke and contributes to a poor overall outcome. We analyzed long-term weight changes and their predictive factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 71 first-ever stroke patients were included in the study and examined (1) their weight on admission to the acute stroke unit (usual weight [UW]), on admission to the rehabilitation unit, on discharge from the rehabilitation unit, and then 1 year or more after the stroke (median time: 2.5 years), (2) the presence of malnutrition after stroke, and (3) possible predictive factors, namely, sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics (concerning the stroke, the patient's current neurologic status and the presence of diabetes mellitus and depression), and the present nutritional state (including eating difficulties, anorexia, and changes in food intake and food preferences).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight fell (4.0 kg) during the patients' stay in the stroke unit, increased moderately in the rehabilitation unit (2.0 kg), and returned to the UW by the long-term measurement. However, at the last observation, 40.1% of the patients weighed markedly less than their UW, 38.0% weighed markedly more, and 21.1% were relatively stable. Predictors of weight change were a change in preferences for sweet food products and a change in food intake. Malnutrition was frequent (47.9%) and associated with reduced food intake, residence in an institution, and diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malnutrition was highly prevalent, with an important role of change in food intake and food preferences, which could result from brain lesions and specific regimens. Living in an institution needs consideration, as its negative effects can be prevented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, University Medical Center and University of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paquereau
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, University Medical Center and University of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allart
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University Medical Center and University of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, University Medical Center and University of Lille, Lille, France. Electronic address: marc.rousseaux@chru-lille.fr.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rousseaux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Stroke prognosis; malnutrition; predictive factors; weight change