[Malnutrition in hospitals--a pilot study]

RATIONALE: Malnutrition in hospitals is often not assessed and malnourished patients rarely receive specific nutritional therapy. METHODS: 50 consecutive patients were assessed using the Nutritional Risk Score (NRS). 22 patients (intervention group, IG) with 3 points received standard hospital food. Body weight, body-mass-index (BMI) and laboratory values were obtained at admission and discharge. The amount of calorie and protein intake was compared to daily requirements. RESULTS: Median duration of hospital stay was longer in the IG (24 d vs. 13 d, p > 0.01) and duration raised with the number of points in the NRS. Patients in the IG only had decreased albumin values (-2.9 g/l, p > 0.01), whereas patients in the NIG showed loss of body weight (-1.3 kg, p > 0.01), BMI (-0.45 kg/m2, p > 0.01) and albumin values (-2.4 g/l, p >0.01) during their stay. Transferrin levels remained unchanged. Median daily intake of calories and proteins was similar in both groups. In the IG, the percentage of required calorie (94% vs. 79%, p > 0.01) and protein (80% vs. 68%, p > 0.01) intake was higher and the number of patients with intake of > 75% of estimated calorie (7 (32%) vs. 11 (39%), p = 0.01) and protein (13 (59%) vs. 22 (79%), p = 0.04) requirements was lower. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in the IG were more likely to maintain their nutritional status although their hospital stay was significantly longer