The identification and assessment of undernutrition in patients admitted to the age related health care unit of an acute Dublin general hospital.

OBJECTIVES

To profile those over 65 yr admitted to an acute geriatric medical service. To identify and assess their undernutrition risk and quantify the nutritional intervention they received.

METHODS

Forty-nine consecutive admissions were recruited, 23 various parameters were assessed. A diagnosis of undernutrition was made according to a specifically designed flow chart.

RESULTS

Eighty-four per cent of recruits were at risk of undernutrition on admission and 80 per cent were moderately to severely at risk. There was deterioration from baseline nutritional status in 29 per cent of previously well nourished patients with hospitalization. In the undernourished group, an improvement and/or stasis from baseline was achieved in 75 per cent, with intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of undernutrition on admission to hospital and during treatment is an indicator of the need for nutrition services and nutritional screening for all acute medical services for older people.