Individual, nutritional support prevents undernutrition, increases muscle strength and improves QoL among elderly at nutritional risk hospitalized for acute stroke: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Undernutrition after an acute stroke increases the risk of poor outcome. We wanted to examine the effect of individualized, nutritional support on weight loss and functional outcomes in stroke patients.

METHODS

Acute stroke patients at nutritional risk were randomized to either individualized, nutritional care or routine care while in hospital. Patients in the intervention group received an individualized treatment plan aiming to prevent weight loss. In accordance with routine care, the controls did not have such a treatment plan. Patients were reviewed at follow-up after three months. Primary outcome measure was the percentage of patients with weight loss ≥5%. Secondary outcomes measures were quality of life (QoL), handgrip strength and length of hospital stay. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00163007.

RESULTS

At follow-up, 20.7% of the intervention group (n = 58) lost ≥5% weight compared with 36.4% in the control group (n = 66) (P = 0.055). The intervention group had a significantly higher increase in QoL score (P = 0.009) and in handgrip strength (P = 0.002). There was no difference in length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Individualized, nutritional treatment strategy can prevent clinically significant weight loss and improve QoL in elderly acute stroke patients at nutritional risk.