[Nutritional status of patients in hospitals in Poland. More thorough assessment of nutritional status of adult patients].

The purpose of the study was a more thorough assessment of the nutrition state of patients admitted to hospitals in Poland. The study was carried out in four hospitals at teaching centre level, in four hospitals at province level, and in four county hospitals. The patients for the study were selected randomly from 3310 adult patients (every 10th patient admitted to these hospitals). For the study 210 patients (122 women and 88 men) were qualified. Their mean age was 54 +/- 16 years (range 15-82 years). The patients were subjected to various biochemical tests including determination of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E and C), vitamin B12, folic acid, ferritin, and homocysteine and blood lipids. Vitamin deficiency accepted as vitamin malnutrition was found in the case of vitamin C in 51.8% of the patients, folic acid in 32%, vitamin E in 10%, vitamin B12 in 6.8%, vitamin A in 1.4%. Vitamin deficiency was equally frequent in patients with malnutrition, overweight or with obesity. Lipid profile disturbances were found in 51% and high homocysteine level in 63% of the studied patients.