title: Nutritional differences in malnourished patients according to their liquid-intake habits after hospital discharge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malnutrition is a serious and relatively common problem among hospitalized patients; moreover, it is known that a good hydration state contributes to health and wellbeing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between nutritional status, functional dependency, quality of life and liquid-intake habits in malnourished patients after hospital discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional descriptive study in 91 patients (45 males) who presented malnutrition at hospital discharge. The patients were grouped according to their liquid intake estimated through the Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire: 3-5 glasses (n = 42), and > 5 glasses (n = 46); removing from analysis < 3 glasses of liquid intake (n = 3). The body mass index, weight, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), functional dependency (Barthel questionnaire), and quality of life (Short Form 12 Health Survey [SF-12]) were assessed 2-months after discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The > 5 glasses liquid intake group showed better nutritional status than the 3-5 glasses intake group, for weight (p < 0.001), body mass index (p = 0.001), and MUST scale (p = 0.020). Additionally, the > 5 glasses liquid intake group signifi cantly scored higher values in the total SF-12 questionnaire (p = 0.013), presenting better self-reported quality of life, and higher functional independency in the Barthel index (p = 0.037) than the 3-5 glasses liquid intake group (p = 0.013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although further research is needed to elucidate the characteristics of this relationship, descriptive comparisons between groups showed favorable nutritional status, functional independency and quality of life for the > 5 glasses of liquid intake compared with the 3-5 glasses of liquid intake group during a 2-months follow-up.
authors: . casalsvazquez@gmail.com.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Casals
authors: María Ángeles
authors: MÁ
authors: Vázquez Sánchez
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Casals Sánchez
authors: Ernesto
authors: E
authors: Suárez-Cadenas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001834:Body Water; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Dependency. Quality of life. Nutritional status. Malnutrition. Hydration.